tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66618794330809863702024-03-13T10:48:48.346-07:00One Woman's View of Life and Things in GeneralSusan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-43607512910200560632022-03-29T03:52:00.000-07:002022-03-29T03:52:02.859-07:00PUZZLING QUESTIONS AND SIMPLE ANSWERS - OR NOT.....<span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I haven't written for a while for lots of reasons, but I now feel ready to take myself in hand and write. So, I want to talk about Occam's Razor. Here is a small chunk of the Wikipedia entry about this:</span><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">"Occam's razor, Ockham's razor, also known as the law of parsimony is the problem-solving principle that "entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity". It is generally understood in the sense that with competing theories or explanations, the simpler one, for example a model with fewer parameters, is to be preferred. The idea is frequently attributed to English Franciscan friar William of Ockham." </span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d;"><span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For those of us who don't know what parsimony means, here is the dictionary definition: "</span></span><span><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">extreme unwillingness to spend money or use resources". I always think of Scrooge, a classic example of parsimony. </span></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The theory of Occam's Razor is that the simplest idea is often the best. And I have to agree. I'm not sure how many of us know the definition of a Quango; it is a British derogatory term for an organisation that the government has devolved power, but it still has its fingers in the pie and it is generally well known that Quangos cost the British tax payer a lot of money. The British Government do seem to spend lots of money on the theory that they must have a committee to decide something which most people would be able to see with their eyes shut. </span></span></div><div><span><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Let us consider a few examples of the government paying out lots of money for some things and yet others services get cut. The police, the NHS and the armed forces are prime examples of cuts that seem to have come back and bit them (I'm not going to mention where). </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The police have seen more and more cutbacks and yet all criminality appears to be getting worse. The government expects the police to continue reducing the crime figures without thinking about how they are going to achieve it. I know that police officers can retire at fifty or after thirty years service and they get a fairly good pension. I understand that one wouldn't really want to be on the front line after thirty years but rather than having them retire (when the rest of us have to wait until 65+), couldn't they help take the load off by taking over some of the paperwork that most officers seem to complain about the most? Doesn't seem too much like rocket science to me, although I concede that I don't know what the paperwork actually is about, so it might not be that simple. However, to quote an example, a police officer retires at fifty, has a couple of weeks off and then returns to became a trainer when they could have stayed on and just gone into the other role. I understand that this example isn't unique to the police, but to me that is just wrong and I guess that certainly some want to stay on (and if I have to work more than thirty years to reach the state pension age, why can't the police?) Please don't misunderstand me here; I support the police but there isn't a lot of reasoning for retiring early). I know that Banks made people redundant and then re-employed them at a later date and it's a win win for the employee but not so good for the employer; I would also say that all workplaces are trying to make savings but, to just throw it out there, is it the consumer or the shareholders/people or the government that they are doing it for?</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The NHS has had to make cutback after cutback and then the COVID pandemic hit and the NHS were (to coin a phrase) snookered. There wasn't enough beds, doctors, nurses or equipment to go round. I know what you are going to say - the government can't afford to have enough for a one off emergency situation, but really, they have cut back services so much that there have been long waits for treatment and staff shortages even pre pandemic. </span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In my opinion, both the police and the NHS have too may administrators and not enough people on the front lines.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Moving on, the armed forces have been diminished over time so there is very little left in terms of numbers and equipment - and what happens? Along comes the war in Ukraine and we are starting to feel a little jittery. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We cannot cut services to the police, NHS and the armed forces merely because we are trying to balance the books. The Government robs Peter to pay Paul and maybe it's time to think about how it can do better. Honestly, if I knew the answer to that I would probably be very rich. But what can be done? </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Government cannot rely on the goodwill of the employees when time and time again they have been denied a decent pay rise, expected to work under intense conditions and then expected to be okay about it because they are in a job that requires a person who wants to help others.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">If Occam's Razor theory exists, then surely we can come up with ways to reduce admin (in terms of staff and the paperwork) in both the police and NHS and thus save money for more useful purposes, and to accept that we do need armed forces that are enough to repel any invaders to these hallowed shores and beyond (maybe they are thinking of resurrecting the Home Guard should that day ever become a reality). Maybe we can think outside the box and think of ways of getting suspected criminals in front of a court sooner and punishing them with something that is appropriate for the alleged offence and hurts (figuratively speaking) the offender. I read somewhere that if the police caught more criminals, the CPS and courts/gaols wouldn't be able to cope. If that is the case then more realistic proposals need to be forthcoming. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Sometimes the main reason for things not working to the best of its ability is that good old common sense seems to have disappeared from most people in power. Trying to get Ukrainian refugees into this country is an ordeal for even those who know how to fill out the forms and is a classic example of the idiocy and bureaucracy of this government (not that it would be any different if another party was in power) when a couple of pages of simple questions would get them into the country and allow the goodness of others to help heal broken hearts, minds and bodies. I think the trouble lies in that most in administration i.e. those that actually make the policies and rules, cannot see outside the box and say things can only be done one way. There is <i>always </i>another way if one is prepared to look for it. And often that way is better, cheaper and performs just as well.</span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">A little disjointed as per the usual with me as I write as I think which is probably not the best way to do it. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I'm happy for you to comment, but please be kind as my ego is easily shattered by harsh words. </span></div><div><span style="background-color: #93c47d; color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-18784008378586143752021-10-12T04:47:00.000-07:002021-10-12T04:47:03.145-07:00THE FAIRY TALE THAT TURNED INTO A HORROR STORY.<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe;">Once upon a time we lived in a land of peace (apart from the wars and rumours of wars) and plenty (well unless you count the times when harvests were lost and then we would starve). We worked hard on the smallholdings and farms for our livelihoods and bartered for what we needed. Life was good but hard. There came a time when we found better ways to do things and so along came the industries that made labour saving devices which ruined the home industries that had been used for centuries. Some of us thrived and others lost everything, but that is the way with a world that must continue to adapt or die. Life went on but as industry grew, the world decreed that more land was needed for factories and so those of us who lived on the land that belonged to no one, lost everything. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Fast forward to the 21st Century and we have to decide if anything has changed. People are still selling off their land (mostly their gardens), technology is replacing industries and infrastructure probably faster than we can keep up with it, and someone is making a great deal of money out of gullible people replacing their iPhone with the latest one simply because it is the latest model (and as much to do with keeping up with the Jones ethos too).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Education wasn't much for the poor even in the 20th century and yet, still, the poorest countries have to choose between education and the need to keep the family fed. Worse, we now have countries turned over to those who believe that women are subservient, of no value except to keep house.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">This country has as many challenges as those who are considered third world, but in different ways. We've heard so much in the news about women who have been murdered because they walked alone. For crying out loud, women shouldn't have to walk in groups, not walk at all or have chaperones to keep them safe. Of course, if I said that women should be protected by men, there would be outrage from both sexes. Men are not all meant to be Tarzan just as much as women are not all meant to be like Jane. There are men who have the gentlest natures, those who are physically not macho material, or those who are scared. And there are women who know how to look after themselves through training or jobs or just have no fear. We cannot tar all men with the same brush, as much as we, as women, might want men to protect us, there is ample evidence to know that some men are not on the same page (and a lot of women too). Chivalry is almost dead, whilst loutish behaviour is considered almost expected.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">We have a wonderful police service who do their best to keep us safe from harm and yet there are others who deem it their job to dispute and try to destroy the image of hardworking men and women. The trouble is that it's not just the media (all aspects of it) but those who should know better.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">We have a great National Health Service that has been overwhelmed since Covid 19 and yet is still expected to carry on.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">In my opinion, both these workforces deserve a decent pay rise and more staff. One cannot keep cutting back and expecting the same results. It's ludicrous to suggest otherwise. We need more police officers on the beat and more nurses on the wards. Simple! If only it was though.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">If this wasn't enough we are finding that more and more people are committing suicide. The anxieties that some find too much to live with are coming more and more to the fore. Are we not looking out for each other? Are we too busy to see someone falling? Are they too scared to show their emotions and pretend everything is fine? Do men especially, believe that it's not the done thing to show a sign of weakness? And it is us women who perpetuate that myth? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Our fairy tale start has ended up as the horror story which we know will only get worse. There is a slightly happier ending though, if we are brave enough to take it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">We must, now more than ever, look for the blessings of life rather than dwell on the horrible, negative, derogatory things that we see, hear and read. We must do lots of little things that make the world a better place, and eventually the good will become the news of the day rather than the depressing stories that the media thrives so much on.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;">Good will prevail. It might take a while. As the saying goes, God can move mountains for you but don't be surprised if he hands you a shovel.</span></p><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-91099765258448648842021-07-12T14:28:00.000-07:002021-07-12T14:28:16.207-07:00JUST A MISHMASH OF THOUGHTS.<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I sometimes wonder what goes on in my head, it's full of useless information (but rather handy for quizzes) and things read that I have a differing opinion about. I often scribble a note to myself that I ought to write about the latter and then I end up with a cornucopia (depending upon your views) of mis-matched ideas that have no cohesion other than usually ending up in a blog post. So here goes.</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I read somewhere that some green activists wants us all to go vegan because cows are producing too much methane. It makes an interesting proposal, but I want to know how they will accomplish this feat. First, are they going to kill them all off? Animal Rights folk would quite rightly be up in arms about this proposal. Animals are sentient beings inasmuch they know pain, fear and love, so as such, it would be considered by many as being murder on a grand scale. Second, unless the whole world does this culling, the death of the animals would be more meaningless than it already would be. Should I mention that the cow is considered sacred in India, so I'm sure they would not like the proposal. Going off on a tangent...</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Let's talk about carbon footprints for a minute (or more; I'm not a fan of any social media saying, "two minute read" and then it takes you twice as long). I am all for reducing my own carbon footprint; indeed, I turn off unnecessary lights, I no longer have a car (nothing to do with my carbon footprint, more to do with my lack of coordination, but hey it sounds good when I say I gave up my car!), I walk to as many places I can when I am fit enough</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">(basically I can't justify the exorbitant bus fares charged to go half a mile along the road and my free bus pass is a way off yet), I recycle as much as I can to reduce my landfill rubbish (although I think most of mine goes to an incinerator), I buy organic when I can to reduce the pollution of both air and ground, I send things to the charity shop or upcycle (not very good at that as creative ability is not one of my strong suits) and try my best to be as economic as possible in whatever I am doing. I'm sure we all do our best which may only be a little bit, but in the big scheme of things, adds up to a lot. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm not a fan of Greta Thunberg. When she gave her speech to the United Nations in 2018 she travelled by sea to reduce her carbon footprint but she could have just as well filmed her talk and stayed at home. She seems to be doing a lot of travelling for one who says that we (the older generations) are ruining the planet. Her "How Dare You" speech led to a lot of hype, but I'm not convinced. (See her talk here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMrtLsQbaok">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMrtLsQbaok</a>) </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">I agree that the planet is being systematically plundered and ravaged. I agree that we should do more. But, and it's a big but, it's not going to happen overnight; there will always be money hungry people who care not for anything other than lining their own pockets, and Greta's generation and generations to come will all be the same. Until we find morality and ethics, love and kindness, we are doomed (so says Private Frazer to those in the know).</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I have another soapbox that I would like to share with you. In England, and the big cities in particular although nowhere is exempt, there is a lot of knife and gun crime amongst young people. We need to train the parents so they can teach their children. Children will always rebel against their parents (it's a thing) but to what extent depends entirely on the parents. I concede that parenting is a bit like Goldilocks - too much, not enough and just right, but we have to start somewhere. It's not going to be a quick fix. Education plays it's part too; the children need lessons in humanities and examples to show the repercussions of e.g., knife crime, bullying, peer pressure, which would certainly be a better education than trigonometry.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="color: #45818e;">I would like to see more physical training done in schools - think National Service (peacetime military conscription)</span></span></span><span><span face="Roboto, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"> </span></span><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana;">without the service (I wouldn't want some of the kids these days in the armed forces!). Not just P.E. but real hard line stuff that makes you wish you were never born (okay, maybe I've just watched too many documentaries). There are e.g., boxing clubs which do a sterling job of keeping children off the streets and they instil the discipline that life requires, but they are not part of the school curriculum and to my mind, this type of hard work should be included (and run by military or ex military) during school hours. That would certainly give all children a sense of pride in who they are and purpose for life ahead. Of course, for any of this to work, we need to get the children going to school in the first place. Correct discipline never hurt anyone.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Another change of subject. Reaching targets in the workplace. This is one of my pet hates and I've possibly discussed it before although it might not have been on this platform. I understand targets. I do. I just don't understand why they are so important. In the bank where I used to work, we had sales targets. It didn't matter if the cashiers couldn't cash up properly and correctly at the end of the day, all the bosses wanted was to sell people mortgages, insurance and fee paying accounts. They didn't want the sole customers who struggled with budgets or the savers who didn't have much to save. They turned from a people's bank to a business bank without a jot of sympathy for those who didn't have money but needed a bank account. They also didn't care about their staff either. We were told we had to sell or we wouldn't get a bonus. That was hardly a threat but nevertheless that was the carrot and stick philosophy they used - or worse. When I took the offered package of redundancy, I had to work six months notice. I hated selling and said that I would do my best but I wasn't going to talk to every customer that I knew about flogging them a product that they didn't need. I was told by my area manager that if I didn't sell, she would sack me and I wouldn't get my redundancy package. Talk about bullying at its finest. Funnily enough, I didn't sell and she didn't sack me. Businesses work best when you have a team that are good all rounders but specialise in just one or two things. I couldn't sell but I did try to spot some opportunities; I could however, count money and get through queues quicker than many, and still be correct to the penny at the end of the day, as well as balancing the branch cash book and money. The lady who was the sales person, couldn't get a till right if she tried. We all had different strengths and if we had all pulled together instead of being forced to do something that we couldn't, we would have reached our targets without the angst and had a much better working environment. I always said that if I wanted to be a seller, I would have gone to work in Woolworths although that really wasn't a good analogy.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I think that now I've written all this down, I feel better. Not only that but it quite late in the evening and I should really be thinking about getting to bed. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Maybe my next blog with be full of uplifting stories and anecdotes, but I wouldn't hold your breath.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Thank you for reading this; I will never be a blogger sensation, but I'm happy if just a few people read my blog posts. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Please be kind; I'd rather you do not comment at all if you are going to say something horrible.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Until the next time. Take good care of yourself and have a fantastic day - and the next one, ad infinitum, until I finally get round to writing another post.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-47502930473573746142021-03-16T07:44:00.000-07:002021-03-16T07:44:32.085-07:00What We Can All Learn From A Murder<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">I wasn't sure if I was going to write about this, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt the need to put my feelings into words. It may not be easy reading for some, and there will be dissenters as well as those that agree. I'm not writing from any particular angle, and it is only my opinion.</span><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Let me set the scene for friends and others who are in not living this side of the pond or haven't seen the news.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Sarah Everard was walking home from Clapham (in London) to Brixton (not very far as the crow flies) on Wednesday 3rd March. She had been talking on her phone, the conversation finishing just before 9.30 pm. After that she vanished. A serving police officer was arrested the following Tuesday on suspicion of kidnap and further arrested on suspicion of murder. Sarah's body was found in a woodland in Kent.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">That news alone is tragic, and the idea that someone who is meant to protect and serve the public could be capable of murder (we must remember that he is innocent until proven guilty or pleads guilty in a Court of Law), has sent shock waves through not only the Metropolitan Police but what looks like the entire country. Unfortunately, many have joined a bandwagon that is spiralling out of control.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Politicians are demanding all sorts of things. Members of the public are demanding changes. People out for trouble are doing their best to stir things up. Much of all this is demanding that the streets are made safer for women so they are not afraid to go out alone in the dark. </span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">A vigil was held which was hijacked by people with their own agenda. Some people brought spray paint to the vigil and used it to scrawl graffiti. Who would do that? Some people wore balaclavas to the vigil. Who would do that? Some chanted at the vigil to the police (who were in attendance because we are still following the laws of lockdown and gatherings etc.) that "All coppers are b******* (also seen as ACAB or 1312). Who would do that? Words fail me at the animosity that some have for the police. Damned if they do and damned if they don't. On the back of this confrontation, one of the other emergency services union called out the police on social media saying they utterly condemned the violence meted out by the police. Jumping on the band wagon and stabbing your fellow emergency responders in the back all in one social media post takes some gumption. Fortunately someone deleted it but not before it had been seen and as everyone knows, mud sticks.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">I am in no way denigrating the horror, sadness and fear that Sarah's murder has caused, but we have to stand back and not make knee jerk reactions. Having a curfew for men was one. The latest is having undercover police officers in pubs and clubs to help protect women. What is either of these going to prove? As we have seen during the lockdowns over the last year, domestic abuse has risen alarmingly; if we force men into hiding (so to speak) are we simply allowing other women be at risk of harm or worse? Others closer to home - literally? </span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Two things come to mind and I may well be vilified for at least one, but as we all know, there are two sides to every coin. Whilst I agree that we do need to make the streets safer, we need to make them safer for all, not just women. Women don't have the monopoly over fear. If you ask me what can we do, I have no idea other than to give more money to the police in order for us to feel safer outside. Having said that, there has always been violence (let's start with Cain and Abel) and there probably always will be, but we also have the responsibility to take care of ourselves as well. It never ceases to amaze me that people go out with a phone attached to their ear or their eyes glued to the screen. They are certainly not aware of their surroundings and the same principle applies when they have headphones on. (This is not a reflection on Sarah who was on her phone shortly before her abduction.) The question as to whether females should dress modestly has always been a contentious issue. It could be said that they are encouraging males by being provocative. Of course this then begs the question, if women rarely have the desire to want to assault, sexually or otherwise, a person of the opposite sex simply because he is drunk or bare chested, then why can't males be the same? Is men's genetic makeup different from women's in the way their minds work? Females of any age can say they "really fancy him" without doing anything about it, whereas men feel that they have to be macho or assume that females "want it". No matter what my personal views are, the way females dress should bear no relation to being an easy target for males. Alcohol has often played a part in the behaviour of both young and old, male or female. I know lots of people who are non drinkers and who can have fantastic times out with friends without waking up to vomit stained clothing, scraped knees and a massive hangover.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">The question we must ask is do we need to start with the parents to ensure that all are safe on the street - whatever time of day or night, or should we be leaving it to teachers to make sure that all children know about respect and values? Or do we simply stand back and do nothing?</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">The choices that are made now need to be realistic and not outlandish. Those in positions of power need to ask the right questions and offer support and not demand answers. Those jumping on the bandwagon need to stand down unless they can positively help and those wanting their five minutes of fame should keep quiet and go home.</span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">One last thing on the subject of murder. There has been a huge outpouring of grief for Sarah but in doing so it is doing a huge disservice and dishonour to all those who have died at the hands of another, and the families that are left behind to pick up the pieces. </span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-67956757645984883282021-01-25T08:39:00.000-08:002021-01-25T08:39:12.035-08:00For What It's Worth...<p class="subheading" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;">DISCLAIMER: Reasons known only to itself, this post has done all sorts of strange things, namely changed my justify to central(just for the first paragraph) and added white background when it should be all green and even changed something that I didn't touch. Don't ask me why and until I actually publish, I don't know if it will go back to how it is on the draft copy. Please forgive my shortcomings; if I only knew how to do it properly, I would be half way to being happy!</span></p><p class="subheading" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;">For some time now I have been thinking about all sorts of things that wouldn't normally cross my mind, or if they did, they would be speedily pushed aside in my search for something better.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">I don't know why I read some of the social media platforms that are out there. I use Facebook and Twitter and have done so for over a decade. I rarely respond to peoples postings, other than using the Emojis, because it can get me into a lot of trouble (I've been there once or twice and it isn't pleasant).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">I don't like politics. Most of my family and friends know I never talk about the subject. Honestly, it bores me to death. People will be dismissive and say that I need to be more aware and involved in it. I do vote and I vote for who I think will do the better job in local elections, which is not always the party that I would vote for in a General one. Some may disapprove but each to their own, I say.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">What I find disappointing is that people will vilify someone just because they don't agree with their views. As Thumper said in Bambi, "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all". We should be able to disagree and debate without having to be nasty. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">I have opinions about what has been happening in the USA recently, but I choose not to voice my opinions on social media. I have many American friends and my heart breaks for them as they deal with difficult situations, but I would never tell anyone that I hated someone/something or thought they should do this, that or the other, unless it personally had something to do with me, by posting on social media sites; that is not my place. I do talk about it and offer my opinion if asked (okay, sometimes I proffer it anyway), but it is between me and the person I'm having the conversation with. It is my private view and not up for general debate or ridicule. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">This of course, brings up another issue, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." (attributed to Edmund Burke). That is so true. But how do good men/women accomplish this? I have no desire to be the focus of attention, good or bad. I don't want to go on a protest march. So am I simply a good woman (well, I like to think that) who does nothing? Should I be doing something in the background? Should I be doing the small things that will never get me noticed by the famous, the wealthy or the majority of people but will help others to fulfil their lives? And if I do those small and good things, will it make a difference to my town, my country or the world? I'm not entirely sure that it is a question that I can answer, but a poem (attributed to British/Irish Comedian Spike Milligan, but apparently he found it and liked it so put it in one of his books) about smiling being spread around the world, is not so absurd as it might sound. Here's the poem:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Smiling is infectious,</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">you catch it like the flu,</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">When someone smiled at me today,</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">I started smiling too.</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">I passed around the corner,</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">and someone saw my grin</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">When he smiled I realized</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">I'd passed it on to him.</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">I thought about that smile,</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">then I realized its worth.</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">A single smile, just like mine</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">could travel round the earth.</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">So, if you feel a smile begin,</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">don't leave it undetected.</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">Let's start an epidemic quick,</span><br style="background-color: white; text-align: start;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">and get the world infected!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet;">(The choice of words at the end are a little unfortunate</span><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet;"> in this present COVID-19 climate but the idea is sound, so please, no unkind comments or opinions about the pandemic.) </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">As Mother Teresa once said, "Peace begins with a smile". I believe that it will always be the small things that are done that make the biggest difference. Funnily enough, I asked a question in my Facebook group, "If someone gave you a million pounds, what would you do with it?". Predictably, most said they would help their families (which is admirable), but only a few said they would help others too. For some reason I found that sad because I'm sure those same people would put a jar into a food bank or knit for a hospital or even clap for carers. So do we start small and see where the momentum takes us or do nothing at all because we are too insignificant to make a difference?</span></p><p><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">Some people will know the starfish on the beach story, but here it is anyway:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">A man was walking along a deserted beach at sunset. As he walked he could see a young boy in the distance, as he drew nearer he noticed that the boy kept bending down, picking something up and throwing it into the water. Time and again he kept hurling things into the ocean. As the man approached even closer, he was able to see that the boy was picking up starfish that had been washed up on the beach and, one at a time he was throwing them back into the water. The man asked the boy what he was doing, the boy replied," I am throwing these washed up starfish back into the ocean, or else they will die through lack of oxygen. "But", said the man, "You can't possibly save them all, there are thousands on this beach, and this must be happening on hundreds of beaches along the coast. You can't possibly make a difference." The boy smiled, bent down and picked up another starfish, and as he threw it back into the sea, he replied, "Made a difference to that one".</span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">Do we really make a difference, or are we pretending that what we do makes changes? Should we carry on doing the small things or give up because in the big scheme of things, it won't make much difference?</span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">I know what I will do. What about you?</span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"></span></p><p><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #741b47;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"></span></span></p><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;">Until next time.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #741b47; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #555555; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #555555; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #555555; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #555555; text-align: start;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-28696658613696879092020-12-03T02:34:00.000-08:002020-12-03T02:34:42.046-08:00Ramblings Of A Chaotic Mind<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Since the Covid-19 pandemic, people have time on their hands because of the forced quarantine for most of us.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5">I don't know about you but I've had lots of time to do things; start new projects or pick up old ones, but I haven't done anything and I know a lot of people in the same position. Why is that? I have no idea, but for me it's probably that I'm simply lazy. Of course I could say that I lack motivation (which is true) and need someone to push me (which is also true), but sadly, I fear that laziness is my true vocation. I have been inspired by those parents who have stepped up to the mark and taken over their children's education. I am in awe of those that sit for hours with jigsaw puzzles (I do love a good puzzle but only when I feel in the mood) or diamond painting (I can't get my head around that as it drives me crazy just watching someone do it). I am envious of those that can knit/crochet/sew (not enough though to want to practice to get good at it). Please tell me that I'm not the only one who sits around all day simply doing nothing of much importance (well, apart from eating of course, but that's a different matter entirely - isn't it?).</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5">The year has been one long slog. Those working in vital employment have risen to the challenge over and over again and are to be commended for their work ethic and diligence. There has been food shortages, panic buying (what did people think they were doing when buying all those toilet rolls?) and people claiming there is no pandemic. Of course we have a culture of blame too. Probably the hardest thing to overcome has been the mental issues that Covid-19 has wrought. Even the most stout hearted must have at some point began to feel cut off and despondent that nothing will be the same again. I have definitely felt the isolation and grieved for the loss of physical touch (I love giving - and accepting - hugs, and have missed them), not to mention that living alone brings its own set of problems at a time like this. I am not the greatest fan of Facebook (but sadly addicted to it) but without it I would have lost the plot entirely. That, and Netflix (I don't have a television), is what has kept me sane during this year. I've not had the greatest contact with anyone other than my siblings (Zoom calls are good but would be better if I didn't have to see myself) and the mind begins to believe that nobody cares. It's so easy to fall into the depression that loneliness can conjure up.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5">A complete change of subject.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5">I want to talk about something that was in the news (not quite so recently - but I had an accident in September and this is the first time I've been able to resume this blog). Adele (the singer) was in trouble for wearing her hair in Bantu Knots. A woman (I have no idea of her name) stated that it was cultural appropriation for a white person to wear something that is normally only for people of colour. What a load of rubbish! No wonder the world is dying through political correctness; soon we won't be able to do anything without someone screaming that it is sexist, racist or anything else <i>ist. </i>I could understand it better if Adele was being offensive; I simply thought she was being understanding of another cultures heritage - she was, after all, virtually celebrating the Notting Hill Carnival. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5">Let me waffle a minute about the Black and White Minstrel Show which ran for twenty years in this country (1958-1978). This went out on prime time television every week and I remember watching it with my family. Did any of us think that it was cultural appropriation (or even racist)? No, because we didn't think it was either of those things. Of course attitudes have changed since then and I will neither condone or condemn something that was considered okay at the time (because it is a contentious issue and this is not really the place), but I never got the impression that it was mocking black heritage and to be honest, there probably wasn't that many black entertainers around at that time, also bearing in mind that there is still a disproportionate number of white actors to any other ethnicity in the entertainment business. Let's move past that and ask the question, is it cultural appropriation for women to wear trousers (we all know that men like it to be known that <i>they</i> wear the trousers), for Asian women (amongst others) to lighten their skin colour (what I would give to have a beautiful colour rather than a white that is definitely not peaches and cream), for people (mainly female but a lot of men too) of all races to dye their hair blonde (thus causing <i>true </i>blondes to cry into their drinks that they have been culturally abused and not as dumb as historically presented)? Do I need to go on? What about singing; I have a song book full of "Negro Spirituals" (it's an old book) which I love, and learnt from when I was a child; is this appropriation or an act of admittance that they are great songs and worthy of sharing? In the same book there is the Song of the Volga Boatmen which surely should only be sung by men who row on the Volga? Shouldn't we look at this copying as a compliment rather than something that it is not? </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5">If we cannot get past the constant bickering, political correctness and contention, how on earth are we ever going to survive in a society that makes us afraid to speak, dress or do anything that might be construed as incorrect or bad by some members of the human race? I don't know about you but I don't want to live in a world that puts so many constraints on us for simply being. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5">There are many things wrong with this planet and it's inhabitants, and many things that should be changed, but let's concentrate on the big issues like cancelling world debt, poverty, wars, deforestation (I could go on but would probably run out of space before I ran out of issues), rather than things which may be annoying but not life threatening.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5">I do recognise that there are some people who deliberately act in a way that is offensive to others, and these of course must be considered and dealt with, as required. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5">Promised that I would get this blog post out before Christmas. Now if I could just remember how I managed to post the last one on Facebook so that the link worked.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5">Have a wonderful Christmas and I will see you all in 2021, which although it may get off to a dodgy start, I feel that things can only get better, they certainly can't get much worse than this year. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font size="5">Until the next time.</font></div>Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-2696864818805236742020-06-01T05:49:00.000-07:002020-06-01T05:54:26.524-07:00ALL LIVES MATTER BUT...<div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana" size="4" style="background-color: white;">As members of the human race, all lives matter. I have watched and read and listened to much over the last few days after the senseless death of George Floyd. Many social media posts have claimed that "All Lives Matter" and even some of my friends have made the same remark. Yes, all lives matter but in this instance it is for George Floyd, who was black. </font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana" size="4" style="background-color: white;"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana" size="4" style="background-color: white;">I am white, female, working class and recognise that I am therefore privileged. I also live in England in a town that is mainly white. I am lucky that I have not had many instances in my life where I have been scared about my safety, but in those few times I have felt my heart racing and had genuine fear. I have no idea how black people feel simply going about their lives in a predominantly white world. And I feel disappointed in myself that I haven't asked that question. I have black friends but I have never thought that their lives might be so different from mine. I feel that I have failed them and I am heartsick that white people still think that people of colour are to be feared and treated differently.</font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana" size="4" style="background-color: white;"><br /></font></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><font face="verdana" size="4"><span style="background-color: white;">I have seen harrowing footage of police cars ramming into protestors; a policeman kicking someone sitting in silent protest and a child pepper sprayed. </span></font><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I have also watched as police officers have walked with protestors, prayed with them and hugged them. </span><font face="verdana" size="4"><span style="background-color: white;">I have seen footage of protestors - black and white - who have looted and vandalised shops and buildings. I recognise that some of the protestors are deliberate antagonists that cause people to frenzy who then become herd like but I have always believed that a peaceful protest would do more</span></font><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> good than a violent one. People in power are more disposed to listen to someone calm rather than someone ranting and raving. How we get to that point whereby leaders <i>will</i> do something to make a change I have no idea, and it makes me sad that probably nothing will change.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Racial prejudice has been around for ever. Whites have caused terrible suffering to black people down through the ages. Why? Just because they don't look like you? I don't look like you either, but you don't have some indescribable hatred or fear toward me that makes you want to treat me as of lesser worth, as dross, as not a human being or hurt me first before I have the chance to hurt you.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I have no idea whether anything good will come from the death of George Floyd. I have no idea what I can do to help make the world a better place. I feel pretty useless right now. I have cried many tears over the death of George and the following unrest. It's been hard trying to put my thoughts onto paper and in a cohesive manner, but I knew that it had to be done. If I don't stand up and be counted and say loud and clear that BLACK LIVES MATTER then I don't deserve to be known as a follower of Jesus Christ. It's the least I can do and I'm sorry that I can't do much more. </span></div>Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-42684373606484373872020-01-28T03:57:00.001-08:002020-01-28T03:57:17.184-08:00Only short but important to me.....<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The world is going crazy and I, for one, want to get off. I'm fed up with people and their behaviour; those who think that because they can, will, and without any doubt that such behaviour is acceptable because they are rich, famous, big, strong etc., more than the average person trying to make their way in this world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The acting profession is full of talented people. As such they can be, e.g., wonderful role models, ambassadors for charities and champions for children. What they shouldn't be is foul mouthed and happy to speak and write obscenities in every sentence they use. I follow a few famous people on social media (I know, I can't help it, so there's no harm done other than wasting my time) and my friends follow others and then share, so I get to see and hear a lot of things that I probably wouldn't if I had a modicum of common sense. Some of the actors I have had the misfortune to read have used obscenities that would have been totally unacceptable only a couple of years ago. What do they think they gain by showing themselves as nothing more than foul mouthed? Will it gain them more fans? Do they think that just because everyone is doing it that it makes it right? Several famous people are known for their bad language. Not much of an accolade is it? Others regularly write such obscenities that it should make our hair curl. Does it? Well it does mine, that's for sure. Am I an old fuddy duddy who needs to get a life? Probably, but I am also someone who grew up loving to read and write and was smitten with the likes of Jane Austen, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. My English teachers would have washed my mouth out with soap (metaphorically speaking) and failed my stories if I had written one word that was even mildly "swearing". To my mind, it speaks volumes inasmuch that those who are famous, or at least well known, have such low levels of English speaking ability (it probably happens in all languages but I can only understand one) that they can only resort to using words of four letters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Is this a sign of the times? Of things to come? I hope not. The big question is, what do we, you, I do about it? Should we ignore it and get on with more important matters in our lives? Should we make a stand, publicly and loudly, or should we just do our little bit and "unfollow" them (so to speak) from social media, press and television? The choice is ours. </span></div>
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-47524261755350648702019-07-17T05:42:00.002-07:002019-07-17T05:42:49.511-07:00What has become of us?<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I apologise in advance that this blog has many different size fonts. I have no idea why this happens as my original is all the same size. Should anyone have the answer to this, then I am all ears. Any grammatical or spelling errors I can only blame on my spell checker as I have proof read this so many times that I couldn't spot any error if it jumped out at me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have so far started three blog posts over the last few months and not finished any of them. They all go in different directions and yet I am still as stumped over how they should continue as when I first begun them. Call it writers block although I certainly don't define myself as a writer. I have abandoned them to their fate at the moment and come up with something that maybe is a little bit different from my "norm" - whatever that is. Please read on....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">I think that I would like to address some issues that seem to rear their head from time to time and then just as quickly disappear back into the woodwork, never to be heard from until someone is brave enough to broach the subject again. I will, in all probability, end up talking about something completely different; that's fine by me, and the people who know me - well let's just say it's not unusual!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Let's talk about the NHS (the wonderful National Health Service) that we are lucky enough to have in the United Kingdom. This gives free health care to all that need it; there is no bias for wealth, colour or religious beliefs. The doctors and nurses work incredibly hard for little pay (in comparison to health care providers who work in the private sector, and others who get paid obscene amounts of money which I hope that I can address later). I know that we should always be moving forward and not looking back, but to be honest, by looking back we can see where everything started to go wrong. In the "Good Old Days", we had matrons. Matrons started at the bottom and worked their way up. They knew about emptying bed pans and making "hospital corner" beds. They knew the issues faced and how nurses felt because they were "one of them". Matrons are now just as likely to be administrators with little or no knowledge of nursing but with degrees in Business Administration and the like. This is admirable but unless they have been at the grass roots level, how on earth are they going to understand the challenges and frustrations that nurses face? In my opinion, in today's climate the bottom line is not about patient care but how much money can be saved. Back in the day, e.g. the cleaners were staff and took pride in keeping the hospitals clean; nowadays it is all contracted out and although I have little doubt that the standards are acceptable, I do wonder if the same commitment is there. Nurses today have to have degrees - in what I am not entirely sure - but a degree isn't going to comfort a grieving parent, clean up the vomit or just comfort the patient. I do understand that a decent education is needed but how many people do you know that fail spectacularly at exams but know all the answers in a non threatening and less panic stricken environment?</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I am not a statistician, but I often wonder how much income would be generated (in this country) if every person gave one penny per week to specifically address the problems in the NHS, the emergency services and education? I would certainly be willing to help out in this way if it would generate enough income and be used solely for those purposes, i.e. more doctors and nurses, more police on the streets and more staff for the other emergency services. I also wonder how much could be saved by reducing the pay of MP's? All I see is money grabbing greed from those who are supposed to represent their constituents yet actually do their own thing or follow the orders of their party. Something has to give and I feel strongly that the amount that MP's get paid is not a representation of the amount of work they do. I have another question about this country giving to (so called) poorer countries. I think I am right in saying that we give 0.7% of our Gross national Income (which equates to £13.4billion - I've just looked it up) to third world and developing countries each year. What would happen if we channelled all that into the NHS etc. as I mentioned above? I know that sounds awful but surely we need to get our own house in order so that we can then be in a better position to help others? Even half that amount could probably work wonders. Maybe the government needs to listen to the people rather than just making a mockery of any democratic process (and I'm not talking about Brexit, nor will I ever). </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">In my humble opinion (and in the big scheme of things it doesn't really have much clout) the government needs to prioritise and start putting the people first. I am a HUGE believer in charity and in helping the poor of struggling countries, but I read that we give to countries that have extreme poverty and yet are developing a space programme. Come on Members of Parliament (MP's); where has your common sense gone? Surely we can demand that those countries do more to help their own? I recognise that I am not privy to things that go on in the background and we may well be doing something, but the bottom line is that we are creating dissension in our own country by continuing to help those that should be helping themselves. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This really should be a "Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day, show him how to catch fish and you will feed him for a lifetime." moment, which is simply not happening. All the time we give money without recompense in some way, we are teaching people to be too expecting. This happens in the UK as well, and probably all over the world, so it is not a new or unexpected phenomena.</span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">This now brings me on to my second "beef" if you like. How can anyone be paid exorbitant sums of money for playing a game of football? Now I can hear people screaming as I write that football is a national treasure and all that, but I stand by my argument that it is ridiculous that anyone should think they are worth that much when people are dying all over the world. It is obscene. It is not just here; it is anywhere that sport is played and the profit margins are more important than anything else. What on earth do people who earn more than one thousand pounds per week (and I just plucked that figure out of the air) do with their money? How many rooms do you need to live in to be comfortable? How many holidays do you need a year? How much is required to "Keep up with the Jones'" and thus continue the need for higher wages? I suspect that many of these stars actually do give a lot to charity etc., but the point is that there should never be such a gulf between the rich and the poor. I don't begrudge those that have worked hard for their money or have made sacrifices for the chance of a better life, because I think that is every parents dream for their children.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Everything that happens in this world always has money at the heart of it. Money and greed. Someone will always want to make easy money rather than earn it by hard work (and vilify me if you like but I don't consider playing football for ninety minutes perhaps twice a week as hard work). Hard work is working down the mines, working twelve or more hour shifts in the emergency services saving lives, being a carer and trying to hold down a job. Hard work is totally different from being talented at something. I have gone on about football because it is always in the media (I hate to call it "News") but there are plenty of other things that people pay for which could probably wipe out the debt of some small country somewhere. How about paying out millions for a painting just to hang on a wall and for your eyes only? There is so much going wrong with this world that I sometimes (admittedly not very often) despair.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">H<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">aving said that, there are millions all over the world that are helping others with no thought of reward. Whilst there are people like that, we still have hope. Let's try and do something for others. There are so many ways that we can help other less fortunate or in different health circumstances to ourselves. Every kind act helps someone, even if we never know the outcome; just knowing that we have done something is enough to make our feel good factor rise. Try it and see....</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">If you have liked this and would like to comment, I am happy for you to use the comments section below; I will not tolerate any bad language or nasty remarks. All thoughts are my own and whilst many may not agree, I don't want to have to remove comments, but will if I have to (simply becasue I have the power!).</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until the next time, be good, be happy and remember that a smile can go round the world if it is paid forward.</span><br />
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-36287287905855801312016-06-28T12:20:00.000-07:002016-06-28T12:20:03.440-07:00A collection of random thoughts which may or may not be very interesting......<span style="font-size: large;">First, please don't ask me why my blog has huge gaps between the paragraphs because I have no idea. I'm guessing that I had an image in that space at one time and now it will not disappear. I can't even get another image to fill the space, so there you are, stuck with it! How sad that I can write after a fashion but cannot control the page set-up etc. However, I won't let that stop me.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think too much. I think about all sorts of trivial things with the inevitable, "I wonder why" scenario that comes with it. I think about deeper things too like fracking and saving our planet. I like to think, but sometimes I am happy not to think of anything much at all and then my brain jumps from one subject to another with reckless abandon. It is moments like this that I usually have my best thoughts, and which I forget the instant that I recognise they are good enough for my Facebook group page (Life Changes And You) and quote book that I keep. How infuriating is that? I also have my best thoughts when I am just about to fall asleep or wake up during the night with some good idea or another. Of course, many people have told me to keep a pad and pencil by my bed but, I am pretty sure that would wake me completely and I would then lay awake for hours. This might mean that I lose some prize winning idea or super quote but I'm afraid that I value my sleep too much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If I was a philosopher I could say that I do my best thinking whilst walking the grounds of The London Temple (my home from home for the last two years and definitely the next one and hopefully two years of my life), but that wouldn't be true either. Rene Descartes wrote, "I think, therefore I am". To be accurate he didn't write it in English. It was originally in Latin and he translated it into French which was then translated into English. I say this because I know that somebody (probably more than one in fact) will pick me up on that, but going back to my original idea about best thinking.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Why does it rain when you want to go out and stop the minute you are either back indoors or nearly home, having got soaked in the process? I say this only because it is raining and I want to see if I have any post (a bit like the Americans who have their mail boxes at the end of the drive, I have to go to reception to check if I have any) and put my rubbish out. I could go further and say why does it always rain on a Bank Holiday but the sun comes out when back at work? This, as often happens, makes me wonder why we no longer call them Bank Holidays? Even this hallowed institution is no longer sacred and the shops <em>and </em>banks are now open and we call it a Public Holiday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Talking of holidays, I am off to Gloucester for a few days (maybe just over a week) to stay with a friend. My two year service in The London Temple has come to an end :( and before I start over again (vis a vis my previous comment), I have been encouraged to take a short break away from the temple. Thus I am heading to Gloucester for chat, relaxation, shopping and a visit to Bath. :) I have never been to Bath but I am a great Jane Austen fan so I want to be able to see the beautiful white buildings, the architecture and just soak up the atmosphere of the place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I went to Gloucester and lived to tell the tale; didn't have to go to the Doctor and fostered good relationships with the tailors shop. Sorry, that was not very good but I couldn't think of anything better! Bath (which everyone should know is not in Gloucestershire but in Somerset) was lovely but there were too many tourists for my liking! We did take the two tour buses which gave us history lessons as well as fantastic views and showed places that we wouldn't have seen if we had merely walked around the town. Glad I went. Not quite so sure about Bath Abbey; the outside was definitely better than the inside and in my opinion Gloucester cathedral is much better both inside and out. I was taken to a place called Bourton on the Water which is in the Cotswolds. I fell in love with the picture postcard village and all the houses made with Cotswold ragstone which reminded me of Kent and the house I had which was made with Kentish ragstone. You know, as much as I love Kent, I think I could love Gloucester and the surrounding area too. A beautiful part of the country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am now (which you are guessing correctly is a while later) going to insert a post that I put on Facebook the day after the country decided to pull out of the European Union. Apologies to any who actually read it the first time around.</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">I rarely write anything on Facebook, let alone anything contentious, but I feel quite strongly about this. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;"> Politics bore me rigid but I do vote. I voted out. I did not vote for UKIP or any other party. I voted with my heart.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;"> This country has drained enough money away to faceless and corrupt officials who think they are God. The result doesn't mean that we cannot do the things we used to do yesterday. We are still a caring nation and will continue to help refugees and countri<span class="text_exposed_show">es in need. People can still study or work abroad. They can still go on holiday in Europe. And even if they can't, surely this country has great educational facilities and beautiful locations?</span></span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;"> The money that the country will save can be spent on the NHS, education and the armed forces to make them great again.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;"> There will always be something to moan about, that's just human nature, but I am proud to be British and know that if we all pull together wonderful things can happen. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;"> I seem to recall that France didn't want us in the "Common Market", as it was then, in the first place.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;"> Let's be grown up and positive about all of this. We certainly can't do any worse than what Brussels etc. have done, and who knows? We might just surprise all the doomsayers. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;"> This is merely my opinion, I am not wanting a debate or anything else. I just feel sad that people are assuming the worst instead of expecting the good.</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since I wrote that, the whole of the country has gone completely mad! Those that voted to remain want a second referendum because of the lies (surely not?) that some politicians told us. I can't be certain, but I'm pretty sure that many people voted against remaining simply because the EU is trying to take away our teeth i.e. telling us that we can't do this, that or the other; grabbing money from us because we are more wealthy than some of the other countries in the EU, and generally saying that are laws are not right. I could go on but I think you all have the gist. To presume that we voted because we listened to politicians is laughable. Who has ever listened and believed a word that any M.P. or prospective M.P. has said? And a second referendum. Really? Come on; are we going to have a best of three vote, or five, or more?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Following on from that, the newspapers have a lot to answer for too, telling us one minute that this is how it is and the next telling us something different. This is why I rarely buy a paper or listen to the news. Everything nowadays has a spin on it, some sort of ulterior motive that we, the masses, are not privy to. I must add one more thing to my little rant and that is that we must NEVER forget that men and women died to keep this country free. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My brain now hurts! I was going to write something that I thought was intelligent..... instead I suddenly thought of something else whilst typing the first bit and then promptly forget what the second thing was. I am not organised nor particularly coherent in my thoughts and writings, but the people who know me hopefully understand my waffling. And yes, I know that I said something similar at the very beginning of this piece, just in case you thought I was repeating myself. Talking of repeating oneself - have you noticed that authors nowadays have a tendency to not only repeat the same word within a sentence or very soon after, but when they write a second book, they use the same phrases for a different character? Drives me nuts, especially when you read them one after the other in a reading frenzy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Do you like the way that I change subjects with such consummate ease? It is a real skill and one of which I am inordinately proud. I defy anyone to make a mish-mash of comments even ever so slightly interesting or entertaining. I certainly can't do it, so beg your forgiveness for the oddity which is my blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I am getting to the next thing which has irritated me somewhat over the last day or so (not sure when you will be reading this, so it could all be really old news...). Not only did we vote to leave the European Union, but we lost to Iceland in the European Cup and are therefore sent home in disgrace. The manager has apparently resigned and the whole of England (well the ones on my Facebook page) is ranting and raving over such dismal failure against such low opposition. Get a grip people! It's a football match! A game! You would think that all the money that is spent on players salaries would account for something. It obviously doesn't. Maybe if they had to take a pay cut for every game they lose it would give them some sort of incentive to win. Perhaps they should all take a pay cut; I have just read that one football star is getting paid up to three hundred thousand pounds per week. That is obscene. Especially as he was on the losing England squad. As I heard about our demise yesterday (which would be the 27th June if anyone is even remotely interested), a thought occurred to me that it might be nice for all those (not just footballers) that earn ridiculous salaries to donate a percentage to e.g. the homeless, the starving, the refugee, the NHS on a regular basis. I'm sure that some high earning footballers do give to charities etc. and some might even do it in secret, but at the end of the day, people are being paid silly money for a game that takes less than two hours of playing time and a couple of days training. And they don't even play all year! The funny thing is that this morning as I was checking my Facebook account, I saw someone mention the same thing - that it would be good for the footballers to give up some of their wages to help others in need. Enough said!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have always maintained that there are two things that I will never talk about (there used to be three but that's another story), that is politics and football. What have I rambled on about ad nauseam about for the last few paragraphs? I'm really sorry. Well not so much because if I didn't write about those topics my blog post would be very short.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Got to leave this here because if I don't it will never get posted. I am always happy to receive comments, either on the actual blog site or on my Facebook page, but I won't tolerate anything that makes me cry - so please be gentle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading and indulging my idiosyncrasies. Love to you all. Until the next time I am bitten by the bug to write.</span><br />
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<br />Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-21372741569626527542016-03-04T08:05:00.000-08:002016-03-05T00:08:58.645-08:00A long absence......<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I started to write this post several months ago and for some reason just left it half finished. Being determined that I would complete and post it, I started to make amendments so that it was more up to date (see the first sentence).That was a big mistake because it just doesn't work without rehashing the entire thing; although I have time on my hands, I don't have that much, so here's the plan. If you care to read this, I am going to pretend that it is written in the present (which it was when I started it) and then I will mention when I am really up to date and hopefully it will still be a rather boring read, but will make much more sense. Read on if you dare.... </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Can you believe that I have been away from a computer for more than a year and that my blog has been ignored for nearly two? Have you actually missed me? My last blog post was rather prophetic, I think, inasmuch that I wrote saying that I might not even be able to use a computer whilst living at the temple - and sadly I was completely correct. However, I am now back and raring to go so I guess I need to update you all on what has been happening. Nothing very exciting, but I'm sure that I can find a few things to talk about and while away a few minutes of your time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">First, I came to the temple fully expecting to be able to access the Wi-Fi from my room. This was not the case and although I could use the reading room in the Accommodation Centre I did not have my phone up and running properly. For several weeks I had minimal contact with the outside world (namely Facebook and my emails) and I spent many an hour trying to work out how to get the internet on my phone. Perseverance paid off in the end and I finally felt human (and contactable) again. This did give me cause for concern as I wondered how I ever lived before the technical gadgetry that is the internet and computers. The down side to all this wizardry was simply that, not only could I not get half the things I needed, but I discovered (to my chagrin) that I just cannot type on a keyboard that is the size of a postage stamp! Even worse than not being able to type, I was finding that I couldn't send an email more than a couple of lines long. How could I possibly live without writing a screed of some sort? My life was joyous in so many other ways, but my ability to communicate was severely curtailed and I felt the loss immensely. Fast forward one year and I have finally been given some sort of modem or hub (or maybe even both - who knows?) thing that allows me to have Wi-Fi in my room. Hip, Hip, Hooray!! As you can see, my technical know-how is extremely limited, but I get by and now I am very happy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I would love to tell you all about my temple experiences, but sadly I cannot. The temple ordinances are sacred (rather than secret), so although I work five days a week doing something that I absolutely love, I can't tell you much about it. However, I can say that I have grown stronger in a spiritual sense as I have opportunities to help members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who come to the temple and perform vicarious work for their families. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Changing the subject (as I usually do), I have had some wonderful days out with other temple workers. We don't work Mondays as the temple is closed, so twice a month we can, should the desire take us, go out to visit places in and around Surrey (and a bit further afield). I think that this day out was originally intended for the foreign (mainly American) workers who come to serve a mission here. We English tag along for the ride and have a great time. Now these experiences I can tell you about, along with the friends that I have made whilst being here.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I haven't been to many historic places simply because I don't have a National Trust or English heritage card (which means you get in free). Most of the missionaries have one, but then again, most (but not all) are couples and it has always been cheaper to buy a couples ticket rather than a single one. Do those trusts think that we can easily afford to pay more? Very unfair, but not a lot I can do about it other than not go. I did go to one Palace (because it was free) but it was so unforgettable that I have forgotten the name of it! It wasn't even a palace either, not after the Courtauld family had got hold of it. That's no slur, simply my opinion - my friend loved it all. To me, the décor was a mish-mash of beautiful old and art deco/art nouveau (which is not my favourite era in respect of furnishing etc.). It ruined what could have been a beautiful building. One of the funniest things I saw was a "secret door" that went from the husbands bedroom, to the wife's. Their bedrooms were next door to each other and if he wanted to be with his wife, why didn't they share a room? Bizarre and stupid, but hey, each to their own.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">During the summer months (remember how beautiful it was last year), we have been to various coastal places. I love the seaside and have made most trips. Lewes (although not on the coast) was very hilly as I recall but pretty nevertheless. Hastings has changed so much since I was last there but at least the fishermen's huts are still around. They have a lot more now for children to play on, including trampolines at the cost of over a pound for ten minutes. The sad part is that children hold their parents to ransom over these things and in order to keep the peace, are forced to hand over exorbitant amounts of money. Even an ice cream in most seaside towns is over two pounds. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Last year and this year I have been to Brighton. As far as I can recollect, I had never been there before. The first time I went, my friend and I, after having fish and chips in Harry Ramsden's (a restaurant which is famous for its fish and chip dinners and <em>the</em> place to go for my non Brit readers who have never heard of it), we walked along the pier and then got a deckchair to sit on the pebble beach with an ice cream. A seagull (although not really called such, but everyone knows exactly what I am talking about) came and stood by my friends feet and stared at her the whole time she was eating her ice cream. It was standing sideways so it just had one beady eye on her and her cone, and had its beak open as if it was waiting for a tit bit or an opportunity to help itself. She was terrified and I was in hysterics; I'm sorry to say that I wasn't much help, but this gull obviously took a shine to her.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">SEVERAL DAYS LATER....</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Having got over my fright of last night, where I went to grab a beaker to fill with water, only to find a HUGE thing with more than two legs lurking in it, I have decided that I really need to finish this blog post.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Today, being our one day off as the temple is closed, I decided that whilst waiting for my washing to finish drying (at the absurdly late hour of gone seven o'clock - in the morning), I would walk around the temple. It was drizzling first thing when I went out, but it had turned into a more heavy shower by the time I was ready to go for the walk. Being very brave (or stupid depending on your point of view) I decided that I could go without my glasses. Having walked the paths for over a year now, I felt confident enough to walk without fear of falling down a hole or over a wayward duck. The pleasure of walking in the rain was intensified as I didn't have to worry about my street credibility (who else thinks rain splashes on your glasses looks stupid?) or even anyone likely to see me. I didn't realise how much I missed it. It might only be a little thing to some of you, but it felt wonderful to lift my face to the sky and feel the rain splatter on my face, catching my eyelashes and making me almost squeal with delight. Call me whatever you like, but there is nothing better than being able to walk out in the rain without glasses on. Walking out in the rain however without an umbrella when you hair turns curly (instead of the almost dead straight after I have finished attacking it with my straighteners) is foolish indeed and if I was not, 1) washing it this evening, and 2) planning on seeing anyone for the whole day, I would have never had contemplated it. Why should I care about what I look like to others? Now there is another blog post all on its own....</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I don't know why I can't settle to do one thing for more than five minutes, but barely had I started on the continuation of this, than I was up and out with my gardening gloves, pulling the bindweed that was choking to death one of the plants that I can see out of my window.</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: x-small;">I am now back in the real present of March 2016....</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">I live in the Manor House in the grounds of the temple and my flat actually overlooks a car parking area and the main road rather than the more beautiful temple. However there are some distinct advantages to being out the back. The Manor House is mock Tudor and used to be the missionary training centre until it was turned into apartments for the ordinance workers. Those living at the front of the building have visitors staring into their windows (thinking they will see beautiful things inside) as the path is so close, whereas I have some small shrubs and conifers in front of my windows to deter them. Not many people venture around the back side of the house either so it is much quieter than the front, notwithstanding that I am that much closer to the main road. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">This winter has been so cold compared to 2014/2015 that it's a wonder that I haven't frozen to death. For those of you that know me well, I <em>really</em> don't do cold. But even as I think about that, it has had it moments when it has been mild - mild enough for the daffodils to appear in December on a roundabout on the way to Crawley! Of course when the frosts came (and are still here some nights and even days) the poor daffodils have suffered badly. I don't suppose that I have mentioned before that I LOVE SPRING!? Thought not. call me names if you like but when I see daffodils I cry. I am so lucky to be able to walk around the temple and see huge clumps of daffodils under the trees and throughout the grass and the woodlands to the side of the temple. I can cry at the crocus and snowdrops too, but daffs will always hold a special place in my heart. Silly woman that I am, I am crying even as I write this. Sniff. Sniff. Because the daffodils are all planted at the back of the temple, those living on the front side of the Manor House miss the miniature daffs that are growing in abundance out at the back of it - and right in front of my window.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">All through the year I have little birds singing their hearts out in the trees that surround the Manor House and my special favourite is the robin (only because I don't know what the other birds are!). There are blackbirds but I don't see them very often, and of course there are crows and jackdaws in abundance, not to mention a few pigeons. Last summer a heron appeared at the pond, but after eating all the fish, he disappeared. It was lovely to be able to stand there and watch him until he realised that he had company and flew off.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Having served and worked in the temple for almost two years, my time here is almost up. Almost but not quite as I have decided to extend for at least another year and possibly two (that depending upon whether my health continues to be good and if the temple president still wants me). I have learnt much but know I still have lots more to learn. "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God" is so true here.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Well, I need to bring this post to a conclusion and so without further ado, I hope I can assure you that I will write on a more regular basis although perhaps assure is a bit too strong a word. I love writing, even though others might not get much from it, and it is really beyond my ken to understand why I left it so long. If you have enjoyed this little snapshot of my daily life I am happy for you to comment (I'm not silly and can monitor the comments before they get published! Haha) either here or on my Facebook page. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Stay healthy, stay happy and stay loving life. Until I write again. :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span>Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-36090974424704948172014-05-14T03:08:00.002-07:002014-05-14T03:08:35.605-07:00Nearly, almost, done....<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">If only my title line was true. I have emptied boxes to fill another, sent numerous bags to the charity shop and given the dustman something to complain about by filling up the bins to the top (not over mind you as they get very touchy about such things and give you a warning sticker). Am I any further forward than when I started? Well of course I am but you wouldn't believe how much I have accumulated over the years - and how much one can actually cram into a little flat. The irony of all this packing is that my flat is getting smaller as I have boxes strewn around the room rather than all the contents of them in their rightful places of drawers, shelves and cupboards.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the biggest problems that I have come up against is not being able to just discard things without looking at them first or cooing over them, reading them or wondering just how long I have had them. I think I am being strong when I just say to myself "rubbish, charity, rubbish, keep" but then spoil the momentum by finding a newspaper page that is of the full solar eclipse that was seen in this country in 1998 (not completely sure that is the correct date). Beautiful pictures of the eclipse sent me down remembrance road as I thought about what I was doing that day (actually I was working and the boss wouldn't let us go outside to see it - or not as the case may be but we were near enough to the windows and doors to see the effect) and I can remember that as the darkness fell (I seem to recall that it was around mid morning) the whole place stopped and went eerily silent. The traffic came to a halt and everyone suddenly stopped talking. It was a special experience and one that I am grateful to have been around to see. Then as suddenly as it begun, the event passed and the sun came back out and everyone went on as though absolutely nothing had happened. We are a heathen lot I think! Mind you a heathen would have probably taken the time to pray to their gods...</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The charity shop that is just around the corner from me (how handy) has closed for six weeks for refurbishment (how not so handy) so now I have to plan everything like a military manoeuvre to get the things (for things read junk - good quality junk in my opinion, but you know what they say about one mans junk...) from the flat to the car to the nearest or certainly most convenient next one.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today was going to be a good day, but it turned into a bit of a non event when my luncheon date cancelled due to ill health and when I should have been celebrating that I had acquired an extra packing day, I developed a fit of melancholy and decided to do nothing at all. This will come back to haunt me no doubt when I run out of time and have to resort to just packing everything up and hoping that my friends loft is strong enough to support all my worldly goods. We shall see.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Two days later....</span>and I should be packing but I have the re-scheduled lunch date to look forward to and although I could have done some packing this morning, and some more this afternoon when I get back home, today will probably, in all likelihood, most definitely, will be another day of inactively on the packing front. But I did go out for a walk this morning as if that makes up for it! As of today I have eighteen more days to go before it will be forever too late for the packing up...somebody motivate me PLEASE.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">When all is said and done, I should be able to motivate myself but you know the saying, "Don't do as I do, do as I say"? That perfectly sums me up right at this moment in time. Not going to dwell on it though as it doesn't achieve anything, so I am just going to try and get this blog post finished, if my nails, which are beginning to get too long for typing - and I don't go in for the false nails that are as hard as concrete (I was going to write nails but thought better of it) will permit me to type fast and accurate enough for me to have it all completed before I go out. Really, fast has never been the problem, but the accuracy has, even though I took a typing course at school (never wanted to be a secretary but needed something to get out of the humiliation that was a whole afternoon of games). </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">My next blog posts will probably be written when I am at the temple, so they may well be full of anecdotes of life "at work". I am mindful of those that read my blogs are not all of the same religion as me, but as I will hardly be doing anything else (one can't just pop to the shops because I don't think there are any - or certainly not close by) the content could be short if I didn't write about the beautiful temple that I shall be working and serving in. But never say never and all that. Who knows - I might not have time to write a blog at all.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Must go now so that I can enjoy a lovely lunch with a wonderful friend.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">And I still haven't discovered why I can't put pictures on here anymore....</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Take care people, and I will try and write soon.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">P.S. how ironic that the blog spell checker doesn't recognise the word "blog". Doh!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">P.P.S. And don't even get me started as to why I have huge gaps in my post. Bring back paper and pen I say.</span><br />
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-30606120300553070162014-03-24T02:31:00.003-07:002014-03-24T02:31:39.332-07:00Way too exciting news....!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">As promised in my previous post, I have some exciting news. Well, let's just clarify that, it is exciting news for me and I hope you can share in my rejoicing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I will shortly be off and away from the hallowed County of Kent and go to reside in Surrey. I am taking two years out to serve in the London Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">For those that don't know may I suggest you take a little peep at this link </span><a href="http://lds.org/temples" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">lds.org/temples</span></a><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">, which will show you more about temples and what we do there.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I am so excited that I am finally doing something to more fully serve the Lord. Way,way back when I was a fairly new convert, I asked to serve a mission and was told (for reasons that I don't need to explain) that it was not the right time. I abided by that decision until two years ago. My wonderful Bishop pulled me aside one Sunday and told me that he felt prompted to ask me to consider serving a mission. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that what he asked was right for me, but the timing couldn't have been more wrong. My father had just been diagnosed as terminally ill with only weeks to live and to compound things even further, I was joint executor of the estate. It took nearly a year for the estate to be finally settled (goodness knows how long it would have taken if the estate was actually worth anything more, and I have total empathy for those that just pass off all the hard work to solicitors) and then I knew that I could start plotting and planning for my mission.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">That didn't quite work out exactly as planned either. Once the estate was finalised, I fasted and prayed to know that I was doing the right thing. Once I had established that, I needed a couple of chats with my Bishop to make sure I was on the right track and then I was all ready to complete all the paperwork and see what happened. My life has never, ever, been simple. I had often wondered if someone "up there" didn't like me. Once I was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I had my answer. It has nothing at all to do with my Heavenly Father not liking me. In fact it is the complete opposite. I know that despite everything I get wrong, my Heavenly Father loves me unconditionally. Many of my trials and challenges that have beset my life have actually made me stronger - and I hope a better person. However, I was still struggling with seemingly little things that were determined to trip me up. Here is just one example. I had to have a medical (which because it had to be done privately cost me an arm and a leg) and that included a blood test. Did the doctor take the required blood? No, she didn't and I then had to make yet another appointment to go back and see the nurse. After getting the medical completed I still had to have a vaccination for Tuberculosis which meant that I not only had to make another appointment but it had to be done at the hospital. That took weeks when it should have taken days and even then they told me that I had never been given a BCG vaccination when I know that I had one. And here is an interesting piece of information that I didn't know about; your vaccination that many of you probably had when you were in your teens (well in the UK anyway - I have no idea about the rest of the world ) does not protect you for life, so of instead of having perhaps just a booster shot, I had to have the whole lot done again - which meant more time delays. Honestly if you had said that it sounded like I had someone determined to stop me, I would have totally agreed with you.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Fast forward a few months and I was still nowhere near ready to go anywhere and the frustration was beginning to show. I had two health scares that frightened me and had to be investigated (happily nothing too serious was found in either instance) and that set me back weeks too. And then, when I thought I was almost there - I knew where I was going, and it was just a question of waiting for an appointment with the Temple President (I am beginning to have a bit of a dislike for appointments), the temple actually had to close for ten weeks whist it had some major works carried out. Are you beginning to see a pattern here? </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Finally, <em>finally, </em>after months or being patient (or trying to be) I have been interviewed, set apart (given a blessing to officially serve) and know that I can start in May. Sadly, as yet I have not been given a exact date (the person that was dealing with my accommodation had to go home because of a sudden bereavement and I was told that it would be dealt with on her return - and then the temple promptly shut for its twice yearly two week cleaning break). Honestly, I don't think I could have made any of this up. I have had nothing but delays and illness since I first started it all off, but I know that I should be there at the temple and I guess so does Satan, which is why I have had so much challenge. I can only assume that he thinks that I am going to be so wonderful that he needs to try and stop me before I can do any good. Sadly for him, he has failed and with the wind prevailing in the right direction I shall soon be gone to much more exciting pastures.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I do seem to be going on a little bit but I can't help it; although I am probably more frightened than excited, I am very excited to be able to serve in The House of the Lord for a while. All good things and all that, it does mean that I have to sell up completely and thus I have started the onerous task of sorting out my belongings. I have to confess that I haven't done that much but I am quite enjoying the really serious de-cluttering that I am doing. Basically I have four or five options for all my worldly good and chattels - in the bin, to the charity shop, sell to the very handy second hand shop just opposite me, give to anyone who wants or needs something or take it with me. I haven't seen the accommodation but I am told that it is not very big. If the person had ever seen my flat, they might well have changed their minds as I have two rooms that are less than twelve foot square and have two windows, four doors, a built in wardrobe (I use the term loosely) and a chimney breast to contend with, plus two radiators, all taking up valuable floor and wall space. Anything will probably feel like a castle in comparison! I do recognise that I can take very little with me but I don't need much as the accommodation is fully furnished and equipped. Of course one has to take essentials like my jigsaw puzzles (two newly bought in a sale to get me through the loss of a television), my Jane Austin and my writing paper and pens. I can probably live without much else. My scriptures will be constant companions too, just in case some wag makes mention of the fact that I did not consider them essential!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I have just heard the fantastic news that I shall be beginning my service on 3rd June! That gives me another four weeks at home (as I knew it would be either the beginning of May or the end) and it will be just after my birthday. What a lovely present. So now it really is all systems go as I contact the utilities et al and start the process. Must remember to tell the landlord too. I think I need a list and practise what I preach.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I must go as I have so much to do and so little time....</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">See you all soon.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Susan x</span><br />
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-82512676968689896442014-03-03T04:49:00.000-08:002014-03-03T04:49:06.902-08:00Sometimes I wonder.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This blog is probably not going to make much sense as I started writing it weeks ago and now it is the beginning of another month and it is still not finished. Apologies if it is not up to scratch but I do have much more exciting news to tell in my next post.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I sometimes wonder because I haven't got anything better to do. Sometimes I wonder when I read or hear something that sets me off. Wondering is strange and fascinating in equal measure. I wonder if I am sane. Would one wonder if one was insane? I wonder if things would be different if done in another way. I wonder how planes fly (and even then when I am told how, I still do not understand). I wonder if flowers know when it is spring. I guess that wondering is a little like the two year old who constantly asks "why?".</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">The other day I wondered about diversification in industry. I know it is a bit deep, but I think that I must have heard something on the radio that triggered it off. All these places (whether large multi nationals or small individual companies/shops/home industries) seem to either have to diversify or want to do so. Now, let's take for an example the banking industry (something that I know a little about as I have spent most of my career working in finance). In the good old days when banks were banks and building societies were building societies, they all got along with each other. One "sold " one thing and the other sold another and never the twain would meet. The banks had current and savings accounts, foreign currency and they lodged huge sums of money (for the corporate customers) overnight and made lots more money for them. Building societies gave us savings accounts and mortgages. Suddenly everyone wanted a piece of the others pie and diversification became the name of the game. Why did they do this? I bet if I asked an economist I would be told that it was for healthy competition and to drive prices down. Although that is the sensible answer, I am not entirely convinced it is the correct one. I wonder about greed, not only in the actual industry but in the shareholders who want a bigger slice of the pie for their investment. Investment is great and managing stock markets is a bit of a risky business and we have to speculate to accumulate as the saying goes. But what happened to sheer hard work and determination?</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Something I saw on the television the other day really showed how diversification (or in my opinion, how companies want to make as much money as possible) is working. A big frozen food company is now into the gambling business with on line bingo. Just what is going on?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana;">Diversification is fine and I am not totally against it, but just sometimes I wonder where we have all gone wrong....</span></span></div>
Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-72145969169041525722014-01-11T06:16:00.000-08:002014-01-11T06:16:16.477-08:00First walk of the year.<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is already moved past the time when I can legitimately say Happy New Year but I have managed my first walk of 2014. I think I remember telling you that I had a really bad cold before Christmas and that has sadly hung on, like a drunken man to a lamp post, with tenacity and strength until I almost begun to believe that it wasn't a cold at all. My cough has, over the last couple of days, suddenly diminished from something that almost stopped me breathing into a much more comfortable (but nevertheless annoying) irritant, so in that respect I am feeling so much better.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I decided to go out for the walk after being challenged as to how I am going to motivate myself when my personal trainer decamps these shores for warmer climes for the next three weeks. Apparently off working in the UAE and all I can see there is desert! How wicked.....</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">But I took up the challenge and decided that a walk is what I need and as the sky was blue and the sun was actually shining, I took courage in both hands, threw my scarf around my neck, zipped up my coat, pulled on my gloves and then I was away. My walk has been completed in around 45 minutes previously, but as I have not been well - it was a very respectable 50 minutes. As I walked I could actually feel the weak heat from the sun on my back and although it made me feel ridiculously hot in my gear, I felt a deep sense of joy that I could actually appreciate some form of heat at this time of the year. In fact I would go so far as to say that I took my gloves off about half way round as I was feeling a little uncomfortable and then undid my coat. Unheard of from me which I guess means that I was either working effectively to get rid of some calories or I am sickening for something. I am hoping for the former....</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I walked I had the opportunity to look at the gardens, the hedgerows and the houses. One of the things that I haven't noticed before is the beautiful ridge tiles on the roofs on some of the older, much bigger properties. They sit like rows of scalloped shells and one can imagine (well I certainly can imagine) the beauty of the "big house" as it once was. For many of the houses that stood majestically and belonged to the more well to do, they are now forlorn scraps of their former glory and are resigned to bed sit land occupancy, peeling paintwork and grubby windows. Such a shame.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The trees and hedgerows are another matter entirely. Because we had such a harsh winter, late spring and a glorious summer, this has all conspired to make the trees and bushes positively drip with berries. The berries range in size from smaller than a pea to great globules the size of raspberries. The colours go from the palest orange to the deepest red and as I walked along the road there was an abundance of berries in nearly every house and the splash of colour in otherwise bleak looking front gardens was spectacular and lifted my spirits just by looking at them. People have said before now that lots of berries mean that we are in for a harsh winter; I have no idea whether that is true or not, but I have relished the colour at this time of year when everything seems so dull and lifeless. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The other thing that I have really noticed on my travels (I would like to say up hills and down dales but the reality isn't half so idyllic) around the roads close to where I live is that whilst some trees are completely devoid of their leaves (and I am not talking about evergreen versus deciduous trees here either) others are still hanging tenaciously to a few green leaves and some more decidedly brown dead ones too. The result of this desire to not shed their leaves at the right time has resulted in a sticky mulch of leaves fallen in the recent gales that have got wet in the persistent and often pouring rain and now stick like discarded chewing gum to the bottom of your boots; this in turn means that you are in danger of walking into your nice home all the dirt, sludge and grit that forms a clay in the ridges of said boots and shoes and then dries and deposits itself all over your house.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Next Day.....today the sun is shining and the sky is blue again with barely a trace of cloud, there is very little wind, but it is cold. Looks can be deceiving and whilst it looks nice from inside the fact that I am sitting writing this with the heating on full blast and still feeling a chill, I can probably assume that it is not very warm out. But I am already beginning to count day the days again until spring. Seven weeks....I can't wait and hope that the spring comes on time this year, rather than what happened last year when it was dreadfully late and only stayed for a couple of weeks (well that is what it seemed like to me).</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Only a short and hopefully sweet little blog post this time as I have run out of things to say (very unlike me I admit, but I am sure that it won't last long and I shall perhaps have something more interesting to say next time). Until then, be good and if you can't be good, be sorry.</span><br />
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-52465381209660280552013-12-24T05:27:00.000-08:002013-12-24T05:27:04.167-08:00Twas the day before Christmas.......<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">However, it is Christmas Eve and my turkey crown is in the oven, the gammon is on the hob and a little later I shall be preparing the jelly for my trifle and making the sausage rolls. I would like to say that there is a wonderful aroma of turkey wafting through the flat, but as I still have no sense of smell, I can only assume there is. In fact, I have been extremely industrious this morning although I didn't actually get up until half past nine. That is almost the middle of the day for me, but I woke with a headache so took tablets and went back to sleep. Not sure that it worked completely, but the hideous pain has gone and is now replaced by a back burner nagging that threatens to get worse later. But I haven't sat and bemoaned my fate. No Sirree! I have tided the flat (a.k.a. throwing everything into cupboards, shelves and under the throw in the corner) and now you can actually see my floor. Should I have any guests, I would be (almost) happy to let them in.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I am writing this as I wait for the turkey et al to cook; I know that if I made the phone calls that I want to make I would forget about the meats and that would be the end of my Christmas dinner. Don't know about you, but the only time I eat sprouts is with my Christmas dinner, but this year I was thwarted in my plans because the ones I wanted would have been out of date before Christmas day and the loose ones meant that I had to walk for what seemed like miles to find a bag to put them in. If I hadn't been feeling poorly I wouldn't have minded, but surely the supermarket should have thought of the little things like if they put loose things at the front of the shop and not where they normally lived, they did need a bag or two to go with them. It's not rocket science is it? Actually don't answer that because it might well be... Whilst I am talking about my supermarket shopping, I will just mention that I thought I was going to do so well by going on my regular Friday and thus miss out on all the queues and people filling their trolleys as if they were not going to be able to shop for at least another month rather than one day, but alas I was mistaken in my endeavours as lots of items had shelf life dates way before Christmas Day</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">let alone for Boxing Day</span>. <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">H</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">owever, I didn't miss much and I am absolutely certain that I can live without the sprouts with my Christmas dinner. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Talking about food is beginning to make me feel hungry so I had best change the subject.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Christmas should be such a wonderful time of the year, but for some it brings home all the hopelessness and sadness to the fore, and they are never more alone than now. In a world that is intrinsically good, they is still so much suffering and heartache and I am sure that we could do so much better. But for others, and especially the children, it is a time of magic and wonder, of oohs and aahs, of celebration and love. Many view this special time of year as an opportunity to over-indulge and do everything to excess, but wouldn't it be wonderful if all took a minute or two to remember the true meaning of Christmas? </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Christmas to me is a time to reflect on the birth of the Saviour Jesus Christ and the wonderful moments that made it all possible. We have Mary visited by an angel to tell her that she would carry the Son of God; her visit to (her cousin) Elisabeth and the fluttering in the womb of the child that would become known as John the Baptist and the beautiful yet humbling story of Mary and Joseph and their trek to Bethlehem. Whilst some may say "Bah Humbug", I love singing the carols that tell of the Saviours birth. Sadly this year I haven't been able to sing a note because of my cold which included losing my voice. A bitter disappointment when it is only once a year that I can sing Silent Night or Away In A Manger. Nothing to stop me listening though and I have been regaled by carols all morning on the radio.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">On Christmas Day I shall wake up and open my presents (twice as many as I received last year and I am so overwhelmed with people's kindness) then have breakfast (not sure what that shall be yet - I usually have a bit of a fry up!). After that I have absolutely no idea what I shall do other than as little as possible. I have just carved both the turkey and the gammon; the sausage rolls would have been ready to go into the oven if it wasn't for the little matter of me forgetting to take the sausage meat out of the freezer and I have still to do the jelly. Bearing in mind that my fridge is almost as cold as my freezer (long story which I am sure I have told before) I am sure that it will set easily in time for tomorrow afternoon when I shall be assembling my trifle.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">All I really have to say now is that I hope everyone has a great Christmas and that through all the excitement we actually remember what it is all about.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">HAPPY CHRISTMAS</span> and I will see you all again in the New Year. May 2014 be all that you want it to be and more.</span></span></div>
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-88322887510441011492013-12-11T03:38:00.000-08:002013-12-11T03:38:19.247-08:00That's life I guess......<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes, I think. Most times I just "do" without the thinking part. It can get very tricky. Whilst out and about on my travels I see and hear some wonderful things. Sometimes they are not so wonderful but life likes to throw some curve balls. Take for instance this morning. I woke up feeling absolutely fine and yet three hours later I had pains in my stomach which made me feel sick. I am still feeling like that as I write, but other than hugging the toilet bowl there is not a lot I can do other than sleep. Now that I could probably do without any problem.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Life teaches us so much. Over the last few months, due to something completely out of my control, I have had to learn to be more patient than is normal for me. And only this morning, I dropped a friend off at the top of a very narrow road with a brick wall or fences down one side and cars parked down the other. Now this road is notorious as a rat run cut through and I had the misfortune to turn into it behind a big white van. (If I knew exactly what type of white van it was, I would be happy to tell you, but my knowledge of anything even remotely mechanised/motorised or electrical is strictly limited.) This said van was determined to get down this road but there just happened to be a smaller version of a white van (are you beginning to see a pattern here?) blocking its progress. Unfortunately for me the road is only one way so I couldn't execute a perfect three point turn and go out the way I had come in. Fortunately this van had inched down the road just far enough for me to turn down an unadopted little road, full of potholes and shingle but wide enough for me to squeeze through.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">The irony of all this (is it is now several days later - and you will be pleased to know that my feeling unwell only lasted twenty four hours and I am back to normal, whatever that may be) - is that yesterday practically the same thing happened. I had gone to pick up someone for a meeting and was already fifteen minutes late (thick fog and queues of traffic) when I turned into her road and was confronted by a dust cart. I was just about to carefully edge around it when it pulled out with no indication and stopped right in the middle of the road (there were cars parked). At that point there was no way then that I could possibly get around the vehicle so I had to sit behind it for nearly seven minutes. I was fifty yards from my friends house but was powerless to do anything as I didn't have her phone number with me. I am utterly convinced that the driver of the dust cart saw me; for goodness sake they have huge wing mirrors so that they can see the men working behind the vehicle, and I could have so easily been furious. I have to admit that I was for a while, but as there was nothing I could do other than wait, I decided that I had to do just that and not get riled up. Didn't do my stress levels any good at all though as I <em>hate </em>being late. The good news is that everyone waited for us to arrive before they started the meeting and a good time was had by all at the little gathering of sisters from my church, where we ate too many mince pies and shortbread and had lovely hot chocolate whilst singing carols and having a general natter. Actually I don't like mince pies nor "hot choc", but everyone else did and I stoically refrained from eating <em>too </em>many pieces of shortbread.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiovu5D-XZC9kzHmNhfAUJQv394FtCFU1LQuxD-D2f_muNwf-mvmDxxpLoj3ckddb5U9-Nw1yG6GfmO1xklfaw5uhxEh9UiMqWLpE6Lo-61Px2oHqGrXWYYQNwP63bl5IYZWdwQE5S4cs/s1600/hot+choc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiovu5D-XZC9kzHmNhfAUJQv394FtCFU1LQuxD-D2f_muNwf-mvmDxxpLoj3ckddb5U9-Nw1yG6GfmO1xklfaw5uhxEh9UiMqWLpE6Lo-61Px2oHqGrXWYYQNwP63bl5IYZWdwQE5S4cs/s1600/hot+choc.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">hot choc didn't quite look like this...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUanFw26zoa26QfXChzM4FrXTLPH1xYbXGOcAlDO5-9uqe2Onuo83tueGjYlGA60PwzVBMypvhyphenhyphenoFXG0aC7BMjzjmLyW3ASv1eLEakGNDWGfUXQuzwLO3qJkQgB3-ZI8gacNQpKY9njSY/s1600/carol+singers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUanFw26zoa26QfXChzM4FrXTLPH1xYbXGOcAlDO5-9uqe2Onuo83tueGjYlGA60PwzVBMypvhyphenhyphenoFXG0aC7BMjzjmLyW3ASv1eLEakGNDWGfUXQuzwLO3qJkQgB3-ZI8gacNQpKY9njSY/s1600/carol+singers.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">and I would like to think we looked and sounded like this...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDq9S2C6OLofuMKZbhF0VR7lQCBgZb0s6dj0X1e6cfsrTPvMV0jBFsZpd27wPKTJ2WKPHOz9NZW9idSY9WwptCYn_kroi9X-hcyGaPRg256pPw0wNy7dtog8zAJn5__fw9N2ROGZJvQs/s1600/shortbread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDq9S2C6OLofuMKZbhF0VR7lQCBgZb0s6dj0X1e6cfsrTPvMV0jBFsZpd27wPKTJ2WKPHOz9NZW9idSY9WwptCYn_kroi9X-hcyGaPRg256pPw0wNy7dtog8zAJn5__fw9N2ROGZJvQs/s1600/shortbread.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">but the shortbread was definitely like this! Yummy.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I must stop and get this posted so that I have a chance of putting another blog up before Christmas......</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Susan xx</span></div>
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-80511328577387515742013-10-23T03:42:00.001-07:002013-10-23T03:42:16.594-07:00A Walk in the Rain<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">My dear, beloved personal trainer Rob (you can find him here at </span><a href="http://www.southcote.com/rehabilitation/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.southcote.com/rehabilitation/ </span></span></span></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">) has challenged me to walk very quickly up an extremely deceptive hilly road very near my home, time myself and then improve my performance. Sounds easy doesn't it? I have actually walked up it once and vowed to myself never to do it again as it nearly killed me but ever the glutton for punishment....</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is my recollection of the events this morning: I would have liked to have gone out a little earlier than I finally managed but I woke up an hour later than normal which put me very behind (but boy, did I need the sleep - a full eight hours of bliss). So off I went making sure that I wrote down my start time in order to appease my trainer; 8:16 a.m. Of course, this time of the morning is also the time that schoolchildren are walking to school. However, I am getting a little ahead of myself here. I had barely closed my front door when it started raining. My hair, when it gets damps does its own thing and goes wavy so I had the foresight to not straighten it as I would only have to do it again, but just stick it in a ponytail (usually by going out much earlier in the morning one doesn't see people and those that do see you are hopefully still half asleep so it doesn't matter what my hair looks like). </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNDQSNeQaojBJWG_rVBqLlz8VxjnPw5D2yKzainFDeOrowDvgkWCBndUK3w5IsQrzrvQaIzcE1rP9NBJZRnpUNFS-Y-bkyRVs6yU50dsDdA3Q8_21HJn9Am_sx1faqzPd3xC4op7sCYc/s1600/misc+pictures+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtNDQSNeQaojBJWG_rVBqLlz8VxjnPw5D2yKzainFDeOrowDvgkWCBndUK3w5IsQrzrvQaIzcE1rP9NBJZRnpUNFS-Y-bkyRVs6yU50dsDdA3Q8_21HJn9Am_sx1faqzPd3xC4op7sCYc/s1600/misc+pictures+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My hair doesn't look quite as bad as this....</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Walking at a brisk pace (well it was a quick pace for me) I had to manoeuvre past giggling schoolgirls and mums dragging reluctant children behind them. Having finally got in front of them I proceeded "up the hill". It isn't the gentlest of climbs; almost from the word go you know that you up walking up a hill and I am sure that I felt that was the case as I began to breathe heavily. Thankfully no one was behind me (most sane people drive along that road) and I begun to get quite warm. For those who know that I am almost the coldest person on the planet, you can imagine that I must have been feeling the strain. Walking up a steep incline is no bad thing of course but then I had the obstacle course to contend with as well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">In autumn the leaves change to beautiful colours, but they also fall off the trees. This year (because all the seasons made conditions right) there is also a bumper crop of conkers, which also happen to fall off the trees. I discovered that there are several horse chestnut trees along the road I was chugging up, and all on the side I was on. I had to gingerly pick my way through the soggy and slippery leaves, the conkers and the cones (from the abundance of fir trees) that littered the already cluttered pavement and hoped that by my slowing down I improved my chances of staying upright. I then had to pick my way through a couple of branches that had either been blown down or, in my not very noble opinion, had been pulled down by human hands. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh60Vk0rDvLURZtZh4VpgzAQoz_qRcT-DEt_kVEnNJp1hzj_HHYgPg1ncBoBMmrSk9wV3XAFFHxVEMJ3J7dxEBJLhnjEauQcXt49a7-FUMEhdeAT3U-z4T8mXI88o7NHfQgJ4pgXfXtig/s1600/autum+leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh60Vk0rDvLURZtZh4VpgzAQoz_qRcT-DEt_kVEnNJp1hzj_HHYgPg1ncBoBMmrSk9wV3XAFFHxVEMJ3J7dxEBJLhnjEauQcXt49a7-FUMEhdeAT3U-z4T8mXI88o7NHfQgJ4pgXfXtig/s320/autum+leaves.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If only the leaves were nice and dry like these.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I then thought I was past all the hurdles and just had to continue on focusing on the top of the hill. No such luck! A young lad on his bike and in school uniform came past me and then suddenly stopped a little way ahead. I thought his bicycle chain had come off but upon getting closer I could see that his trouser leg was stuck in it instead. It looked as though he was panicking a bit (no doubt about having to tell his mum how he managed to tear his trousers ) and so I gamely stopped to help him. I held his bike steady whilst he carefully reversed his pedals to retrieve his trouser leg. He even said "Thank you" which was nice. I have never really understood why people only wear one bicycle clip but I guess that you are less likely to catch you trouser leg on the opposite side of the chain (unless of course you wear flares....) and I so wanted to tell him to get some clips but I knew that would look terribly "uncool" to a lad of his age, so I blithely walked on.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The end was almost in sight as I marched up to the turning that I knew would take me back round in a great big circle to home. I checked my time and found that I had done "the hill" (notwithstanding that I had to walk up my road to get to it in the first place) in fifteen minutes. Now this might not sound a very long time and even I concede that the hill is not all that long, but I felt pleased with myself that I had done it at all.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the way back I had different challenges to put up with. The hill going home is probably steeper than the one I had just climbed, but as I was going downhill it meant I had to watch my footing in order to simply stay upright, but the ability to control my breathing was a respite in itself. I would have taken a bit of a longer route home had it not started to rain hard again, so I gamely continued thinking that half an hour is better than nothing at all. I still had to contend with schoolchildren, this time though they were of primary school age and once I got round them I was then confronted by two women walking just ahead of me. That wasn't a problem but one of them lighting a cigarette was. There was I getting all fit and healthy and suddenly I was getting cigarette smoke wafting in my face. I had to do a hasty and not very elegant jig around them in order not to choke on the fumes. But at last I was home and I thankfully sat down and reflected on what I had achieved, writing down the times before I forgot them (all the way back I was saying to myself "fifteen minutes, fifteen minutes so that I didn't forget) and feeling a little pleased. Then I got up and my legs suddenly decided to tell me what they thought of my "speed walk" (you do realise that I use the term loosely). Rob always asks when I complain "Are they working or hurting?", so I have to say that my muscles have definitely been worked - and have I mentioned that I did an hours training the day before?</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">My next test is to go and repeat the exercise and try to improve on the time. I might go out much earlier or leave it until all the children are safely in school but I want to prove to myself that I can get better and not huff and puff so much. And I do want to please my trainer even though he has told me to give up eating chocolate.....</span></div>
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-38479533362459121032013-10-11T07:37:00.000-07:002013-10-11T07:37:59.253-07:00I just can't help it.......<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">If there is one thing that I consistently get on my high horse about it is time keeping. I can't abide lateness (I was born early so that is all the excuse I need) and when someone has gone to the trouble of making an appointment with me and then doesn't show, I do get very cross. I get even crosser when they don't call to apologise or say they are running late. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, I have a friend who just "doesn't do" cross - or uptight or frustrated - and I wish I was more like her. She is a beautiful person who cries over the smallest thing (I am so with her on that one - Christmas films, the wonders of the creation, feeling of the spirit -you name it and I can probably cry over it) but I am not sure that there isn't a need for, not getting cross but, certainly being a bit stronger in ones opinion if something needs to be said. And we can say things in such a way that people know they are being chided without any bitterness. If only I could learn that.....</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just as much as I can't help having an opinion about everything, I can't refrain from making a comment (or two) about the way the people running this country are systematically making stupid decisions only to find they have shot themselves in the foot. And I am not just talking about the present incumbents, I can quite happily tar preceding Governments with the same brush. Here are just a few examples that I know about:</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many school fields have been sold off to make way for houses and now we have an obesity crisis.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was thought a great way to make extra revenue by relaxing the licencing laws and allowing people to drink and buy alcohol all day. This has resulted in a nation of binge drinkers who think nothing of spending pounds on drinking, getting drunk and vomiting all over the pavements - with the added bonus of a fight thrown in and need I even have to mention the children that are under-age drinking?</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The NHS is constantly being told to make savings and cut costs and this has resulted in dirty hospitals, doctors working too long a shift, nurses not having the time to care for patients and a general malaise in the system. The end result is people are dying for all the wrong reasons.</span></li>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Surely it is not rocket science to know that if you keep doing stupid things then it will ultimately come back to bite you? </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, here ends my little rant for now; I am off to make myself some lunch and sit with the newspaper for a while. Not that news is very uplifting but it gives me more ammunition so that I can become again the mad women with an opinion that she likes to share......</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span>Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-64433702021063243602013-09-16T08:10:00.000-07:002013-09-16T08:10:30.916-07:00A narrow escape.....<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I can't believe that I am even writing about this, but last night I had the most horrible experience.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I was just about to turn my light out and go to sleep when out the corner of my eye something caught my attention. On closer inspection there was the biggest arachnid that I had even seen in my house - and right by my pillow to boot! I best just explain here that I sleep on the floor and I am not kidding when I say "right by my pillow". Panic took hold for a second and then adrenalin kicked in and I went and turned my large light on - to get a better view - and there he sat, right by my skirting board - and about three inches from my face if I had laid down.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Unless you are scared by these creatures, one cannot begin to even wonder what went through my mind. To be honest I can't even remember myself. What exactly does one do when living alone? In the past I have called on my father and a neighbour, but this time I was completely on my own. My only recourse was to kill it. I can hear you all tut tutting even as I write this, but believe me when I tell you it was survival of the fittest and although I know that I shouldn't kill any of God's creature, he simply had to go. An admission of truth here is that I ALWAYS kill anything like that which enters my house; I cannot function knowing that one is wandering around with complete impunity whilst I have a panic attack in the corner!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">This was actually harder than it first looked as the darned thing was right up against the skirting and so I couldn't just flatten him as had been my first intention. I gingerly moved away all objects that might impede my mission and then proceeded to hit him with the closest thing to hand - a small pocket crossword book (nice and bendy to get over the problem thus stated). I killed him but had to make doubly sure by hitting him more than once. This did result in a bit of a mess (one amputated leg stuck to the skirting board) but it had to be done. Picking up the dismembered body is not something I want to repeat anytime soon; even through a tissue I could feel it. I felt sick..... </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Upshot of all this is that although I was tired and ready for bed, there was no way that I could sleep after an ordeal like that. Good job I don't drink alcohol or I would have headed straight for the bottle. Nearing midnight I finally deemed it safe enough for me to try to go to bed again. I thought that I might have bad dreams but was surprised to find that I didn't. Woke up feeling fine this morning but am really beginning to wilt as the day progresses.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I have spent the rest of the day looking in every nook and cranny, at floor and ceiling to see if I can see any more of his family....... </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Here ends my little tale of woe which I thought I would share. Please be advised that should any of you feel kind enough to comment and then give me your horrible tales, I shall, without compunction, delete the comment without reading past the first line. You have been warned!</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Bit afraid of going to bed tonight.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Susan </span></div>
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-39781846096127209392013-09-05T01:27:00.000-07:002013-09-05T01:27:45.739-07:00Another addiction?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think I have an addictive personality; I can eat the same thing day after day and never tire of it (providing it is chocolate), I can do jigsaw puzzles for weeks on end before I get fed up and I have now discovered a new addiction - Family Search Indexing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let me tell you as much as I know about it. This is a programme of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the idea is to copy all the records they have and put them on line for anyone who wants to research their ancestry. Bearing in mind that the church has one of the biggest genealogical libraries in the world, I suppose you can say this is a mammoth undertaking. Apparently this all started way back in 1978 (when computers looked rather different from today) and people were called especially to transpose the written records (that had already been filmed). I can vaguely remember trying it somewhere in the nineties but I couldn't get the hang of it and it seemed to take forever, and that is where I had left it - until now.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Several months ago we (as congregations of the said church) were encouraged to start doing the indexing as a service. I could remember the time I tried it and I was assured that things had changed and it is now much easier so I thought I would give it another go. It is something that I can do in the comfort of my own home and as and when I have time. My first attempt was a somewhat dismal failure. The software wouldn't load properly and although I did manage to input some names, they were then stuck as it didn't want to submit them to the server. I like to think that I have patience, but this sorely tried mine and everything (including the computer) was in imminent danger of being thrown out the window in exasperation. So I gave up. For about a month. And then I tried again. For reasons known only to someone else, this time when I tried, not only did the software load correctly, but it stayed put which was a big plus. And I managed to get batches that I had done sent off. Since then I have not looked back and I am spending so much time indexing that my flat is in danger of dust invasion (as I have never been one for housework) and it does resemble something akin to a bomb site. I need to heed my own advice and do some serious time management and make some rules..... However, I have indexed over six thousand names since I started the first week of August, so I am inordinately proud of myself (which I really shouldn't be as it is not being very humble).</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">At the moment I am doing two different sets of records (yes I didn't know I could multi task either), one is First world War data and the other is Kent Electoral Registers. The latter is interesting as I recognise surnames of friends and colleagues and wonder if they are distantly related and the former is sad yet very satisfying to do. All of it allows me to do service when I would otherwise not have the means to do anything else. And it makes me happy and a little bit competitive with myself as I try and outdo my previous "best".</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, am I addicted or is this just a phase? I would like to think that it is a bit of both and if I can help someone with their genealogy then that is a great blessing to both of us. Long may it continue is all I can say. </span></div>
Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-76864636253590892002013-07-31T03:03:00.000-07:002013-07-31T03:03:35.999-07:00Patience is a virtue....<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can. Seldom found in women and never found in man." I recall giving my father a poster with this quote on it and I loved it for years. Being a bit magnanimous here, I would actually say that I doubt there is much difference between the genders - both are capable, or not, of having patience.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08kUI7s2LFYwk_t_0q5cK4b-n38-s4tf7KwRihhE7O4G_cQIgI9ZUObfkep6Eqk3KyvZlOmfi2h9OjxrnqWpgnGr0tQIa9ylwSAr0QK7fognYm1vNTWKxToOyaRimNyjA0JYCUK-McPs/s1600/patience+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08kUI7s2LFYwk_t_0q5cK4b-n38-s4tf7KwRihhE7O4G_cQIgI9ZUObfkep6Eqk3KyvZlOmfi2h9OjxrnqWpgnGr0tQIa9ylwSAr0QK7fognYm1vNTWKxToOyaRimNyjA0JYCUK-McPs/s1600/patience+1.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This speaks for itself.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I pride myself on the fact that when I am teaching I have a great deal of patience; I guess that is simply because it takes me an absolute age to learn anything, although once I have finally got it, I rarely forget. I would like to think that I have patience too when I am just waiting for something. I confess to getting irritated when the postman doesn't deliver the promised parcel/letter but then that doesn't always have a lot to do with patience, more of an inability to keeps my composure!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpe6L8lNRJh3dPyuQiW6igt4vx8ggItVyJXLjfISqJgnEDNfZ2vuIJJWj7xrFTjulgTF9MkEVMYTWQz53DFyF-xS0qwdDDgjGNPBQDh9XtYgPboLoNXMo-5xb-5AJW9Nu2x9qDfwPW5AE/s1600/patience+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpe6L8lNRJh3dPyuQiW6igt4vx8ggItVyJXLjfISqJgnEDNfZ2vuIJJWj7xrFTjulgTF9MkEVMYTWQz53DFyF-xS0qwdDDgjGNPBQDh9XtYgPboLoNXMo-5xb-5AJW9Nu2x9qDfwPW5AE/s1600/patience+2.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I found this to prove the point....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over the last few months I have had plenty of practise with being patient. As with any health issues that require a hospital appointment, one has to be patient (and not a hypochondriac!) whilst waiting for said appointment to come through - and then have even more to finally reach the date. Like being at the doctors, you can guarantee that everything is running late at the hospital clinic/department so you can either sit in a state of contemplative bliss or start moaning about the time you have spent there. It certainly isn't easy sitting wondering your fate but to get upset about the length of time waiting is just a pointless exercise which only makes you hot under the collar.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">I put something into motion some time ago now and I am still waiting for the conclusion. If I didn't have patience I would more than likely be climbing the walls by now; having said that, the longer I wait the more difficult it is for me so it is teaching me to be <em>more </em>patient. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBawxKDH3kOdVwlbzuB3fQGYvSpxhsdSkTYaqMZs3v2A4AsF8nnAI85NLm91hovj84t5YPW-X6Mkv2zN76gMEzno03RKi7A3OtgP4d8xyemOLx2FLWosYoYHX7qEwxCAy5gPfakDNogis/s1600/patience+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBawxKDH3kOdVwlbzuB3fQGYvSpxhsdSkTYaqMZs3v2A4AsF8nnAI85NLm91hovj84t5YPW-X6Mkv2zN76gMEzno03RKi7A3OtgP4d8xyemOLx2FLWosYoYHX7qEwxCAy5gPfakDNogis/s320/patience+3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">This made me smile. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometimes we just have to be patient!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">See you again soon.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">Susan </span><br />
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-3463479018975692212013-07-22T00:50:00.000-07:002013-07-22T00:50:01.462-07:00When things go wrong.<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Do you have days when everything seems to go wrong, break down or simply stop working? My life has been like that for the last couple of months and it shows no sign of abating.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-iGW-dF2nzG5R-rwkRpJIsacP3NPfCyujKloDkceaeVc4iTSbLZBLBt_U9BBdEkyNYXYlW3VZAphptmtoxrJJ0QUar9lfAKEyExnRyjDqDYVhrT8iZgVOMGhrMnz47d3s5_cLHApt6Q/s1600/sad+face.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-iGW-dF2nzG5R-rwkRpJIsacP3NPfCyujKloDkceaeVc4iTSbLZBLBt_U9BBdEkyNYXYlW3VZAphptmtoxrJJ0QUar9lfAKEyExnRyjDqDYVhrT8iZgVOMGhrMnz47d3s5_cLHApt6Q/s200/sad+face.png" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Are you ready for my tales of woe? Firstly my printer has packed up. Well, not exactly packed up but more just given up the ghost. I accept that it was a cheap printer, and in reality I don't print much - several letters on a monthly basis and the occasional talk or lesson material - but it did its job. In fact I would go so far as to say that it printed great but I never was able to change the ink cartridges when they run out. No matter how hard I tried it was more by luck than skill on my part that the printer released up the empty cartridges and allowed me to put new ones in. It is not a pretty sight to see a woman grappling with a machine that is determined not to do what it is told and after wasting too much time on it, I have succumbed to simply emailing my friend the stuff I need and she prints it for me. After the printer came the fridge fiasco (good job I am writing and not attempting to say fridge fiasco - try it and you will see how hard it is). I think the thermostat has gone as it is constantly whirring away and using up goodness knows how much of my electricity. Other than that, it works really well. My kitchen wall clock has been the next thing to stop and this has now been consigned to the bin. It definitely wasn't a battery problem (I put a new one in just to check; I know how these things work you know) as the second hand was moving well but the clock was way behind the real time. After a day I realised that it was something fundamentally wrong with the clock so out it went. Considering it was a £1.50 special from Ikea</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwflt8p3GYj9Jb0gDB_kwqFIicnDZ22hB5z72sAigsL7AaF0SNb26G5QBWmylZa_TlexeFPjyNN4HYxpjYz2_3d_TLCj64ceq-6pynMBPjbc1YwedWGiWpgdxZRUvx-q3zftbjkX7TtnE/s1600/blog+pictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwflt8p3GYj9Jb0gDB_kwqFIicnDZ22hB5z72sAigsL7AaF0SNb26G5QBWmylZa_TlexeFPjyNN4HYxpjYz2_3d_TLCj64ceq-6pynMBPjbc1YwedWGiWpgdxZRUvx-q3zftbjkX7TtnE/s200/blog+pictures.jpg" width="199" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">It looked like this.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and I have had it at least three years and probably much longer, I don't think it has done badly at all. It is just so darn inconvenient though and I have spent fruitless seconds glancing up at an empty wall and I now do think I must spend a great deal of my life checking the time for some reason or another.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">In between all of these calamities I have had two minor health hiccups as well, so you can see that I could be feeling very much up against the wall. But am I down and out? Actually I am not. The failures of the mechanical things are inconsiderate; they have all happened within a short space of time, but in the big scheme of things, they are nothing. With regards to my health, I have always refused to get stressed over something until I know for certain that there is something to be concerned about. In the first instance I do fret for a moment but then sanity reigns again and, as I found out in my case, there has been nothing to worry about. Now if I was a worrywart, that would be a different matter entirely. As an aside here, I have said that sanity reigns again and I sometimes wonder how we actually know if we are sane or not. An interesting thing to ponder when one has too much time on their hands.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">If I was a pessimist I would be wondering what else can go wrong, but as I have learned over the last few years that it is better to be optimistic (better for my health and equilibrium) I am merely going to laugh in the face of adversity and carry on regardless.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">But that isn't the end of all my woes...... Last Sunday, there I was, sitting waiting patiently for my friend to emerge from her house so I could give her a lift to church, when some driver decided to park in front of me and preceded to take my car wing and bumper off! There is irony here inasmuch that I don't give my friend a lift on a regular basis but her normal lift was away and when I do give her lifts, it is often nearer 9:15 than the 9:30 we had arranged. She gestured from her window that she would be one minute. If I had not given the lift, or picked her up at the more normal time, or she had came directly out, the lady in the huge car would not have even been in the street! These things were obviously meant to be. To the lady's credit she got straight out and apologised, accepting that it was completely her fault. She couldn't really do much else considering that I was parked at the time, but it was nice for her to accept the consequences (the person who ran into the back of me whilst I was stationary at traffic lights told me that his foot had slipped off the brake! He thought I was gullible when really I was merely being polite in accepting his stance). Of course her car sustained very little damage as it was a Mercedes A Class </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZgSXwjWzZKULmWX7GWRGf1h_1jEsqGgzQ-0RLC63H3QCNLIzpELJU7ZwRTdxqoWnhd0RqI6bGzem-Tsa0zu7XjacqYR-PVXPd-3Ifq9AB_3b-3xajav-bFvONhrw1j0tRuQNhFUjyS0/s1600/car+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZgSXwjWzZKULmWX7GWRGf1h_1jEsqGgzQ-0RLC63H3QCNLIzpELJU7ZwRTdxqoWnhd0RqI6bGzem-Tsa0zu7XjacqYR-PVXPd-3Ifq9AB_3b-3xajav-bFvONhrw1j0tRuQNhFUjyS0/s320/car+3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">It looked a lot like this but what do I know.....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"> and thus a lot bigger than my Chevrolet Matiz. Would I be too dramatic in saying that had she hit me from a different angle she could have probably rolled right over me? </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytXRuwTbx6srQPoM-ODPeKvBVgauy6ZqHOKsBqWDQSaFj5i7vuZQ5sleuOkSIQO9qX934Y0ZzihI0KqWIRtzECotOpTkkj9UxlYNvDjiQjlxK59XtaIRAx8m2_5UEpLI-E8s5zn2DiUw/s1600/car+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytXRuwTbx6srQPoM-ODPeKvBVgauy6ZqHOKsBqWDQSaFj5i7vuZQ5sleuOkSIQO9qX934Y0ZzihI0KqWIRtzECotOpTkkj9UxlYNvDjiQjlxK59XtaIRAx8m2_5UEpLI-E8s5zn2DiUw/s320/car+4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">My little car and same colour too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">She actually admitted that she was distracted by looking for her sons new home and misjudged the space! Now my car is miles away from home in the workshop awaiting its repair but I am told it should be back with me by the middle of the week. Here's hoping for that as I do miss my car even if I don't use it a lot.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, there you have it. If I was a lesser mortal ( I feel a bit like superwoman....) I would have crumbled under the weight of all these added burdens but I am still here and alive to tell the tale. Are all these things inconvenient? Yes. Are they life threatening? No. Will it help me to get upset over them? No. Will the mishaps etc. come to an end soon? Probably not but I always live in hope.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Watch this space for more exciting (I use the term loosely) adventures from this rather wacky, not always all there but has fun sometimes on the journey, woman whose alter ego is this blog. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you next time, and don't forget that I am always happy to have comments left just to reassure myself that someone actually reads these posts!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Susan</span><br />
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-36791905734293200472013-07-07T12:15:00.000-07:002013-07-07T12:15:45.691-07:00There's nowt so queer as folk......<div align="center">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">This morning as I went out for my early morning walk, the sun was attempting to push through the high cloud cover which turned the sky a pale blue. As I am writing this, the sun is now shining brightly with wispy clouds hanging nonchalantly in the air as if waiting for something. The wind, which has sporadically been vehement in its ferocity over the last couple of weeks has abated and the passing cars are casting dark shadows across the road. Today is a good day to do all sorts of things.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I often wonder about people when I am out pounding the streets, actually I wonder about people all the time, but when one hasn't got anything better to do than people watch, then it inevitably begs the questions. Here's a question; why are folk more forward in saying "Good morning" or even attempting a little chit chat, when there are so few people about? Are we so reserved in this southern end of the country that we are reticent to talk to people when others are around, for fear that we shall be accused of something? And what about eye contact? Well I could go on forever about that subject, but I promise that I will control myself and just say a few things.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Whatever the time of day, few people give eye contact in passing. Is this some throw- back to the days of cave men and the like whereby a glance could be construed as threatening behaviour? Are men worse than women in not looking at the opposite sex just in case they are suddenly hauled in front of a judge for what they might have been thinking? Does looking at someone directly and having that eye contact constitute a threat, a mark of dis-respect or is it just not polite to stare? Do we not look at people just in case that they might lash out in verbal or physical abuse? "There's nowt so queer as folk" is a very apt description.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Yesterday I was at a sisters day at church and one of the classes that was on offer was self defence. Bearing in mind that I had the choice of that or craft making, zumba or no cook baking, I thought that the former would definitely be the better option. It was certainly interesting to watch the male tutor interact with the females - and vice versa. He was a lovely man and it was interesting to discover how I could get out of a sticky situation, but I am not a very tactile person (not to mention a bit of a dodgy back which I used as a <em>very </em>convenient excuse) so I was more than happy to just sit and watch and listen. That in itself would have made a people watcher, body language expert or psychologist get in a bit of a flutter and come up with all sorts of reasons as to why I sat out. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have to admit now that this blog has been sitting on my computer for nigh on three weeks! I have no excuse other than I have been extremely busy, but I have had time here and there to get it finished and published. I could come up with lots of excuses but I haven't really got any; if that makes me more human then I am happy to go along with that and prove that I am just like everyone else..... So, t</span><span style="font-size: large;">his is probably going to be my shortest blog ever, but if I don't get it out now I shall be so behind that I will end up missing a month and that would just be disastrous - wouldn't it?</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">However, just before I go, I am going to leave you with a wonderful idea that I heard at the same sisters day yesterday. We had an awesome speaker who talked about what we could do in one minute. And do we ever stop for a minute and ponder about things? He said some great things but the possibilities are endless and it really made me think about my life and the speed that I choose you rush through it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I would be interested to hear your comments and thoughts on that, or anything that I have written here.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">See you all soon.....</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Susan </span><br />
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6661879433080986370.post-67210336795424867312013-05-28T06:39:00.000-07:002013-07-25T03:25:14.034-07:00 The joys of exercising and other stories......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">Not sure there will be other stories, well, other than the one I wrote and for some inexplicable reason lost half of, but let's see how I get on with this .....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">I promised that I would keep you appraised of my exploits and antics with my exercising regime back with the best trainer in the world, Rob. Rob works some of the time out of Southcote Proactive Healthcare </span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.southcote.com/"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;">http://www.southcote.com/</span> </span></a></span><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"> which is a marvellous place to exercise in (it is also a chiropractic clinic and loads more besides) but he is some sort of golf exercise specialist too </span><a href="http://www.triprogolf.co.uk/"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: red;">http://www.triprogolf.co.uk/ </span></span></a><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">So, where do I begin. I started the week previously with an assessment, which went well and then I was all raring to go on the following Tuesday. Presenting myself at the centre just a few minutes early, I could see the last client being put through his paces and felt excited at the prospect of being able to exercise under supervision. I find it hard to maintain my motivation and enthusiasm when having to train at home, but the gym I used to attend (in between the personal training) was full of macho men - and women that were dressed more for going out than working out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I was certainly put through my paces as I did exercise after exercise on the floor. My core is not stable so I told Rob I need to do core and leg exercises and also I have no balance, so I want to improve on that area too. Some of the exercises I remembered from previous encounters and others were completely new. I have a problem with mirror images, so when Rob is showing me how to do something and expecting me to do it, I find it near impossible as I can't work out what arm or leg I am supposed to be moving. I surely can't be the only person who has this dilemma . He tells me that I have to recognise where my body is and how it should look in certain positions. I tell Rob that I don't really recognise any part of my body! Rob says "make a bridge" and then tells me to do it higher, better or have more control when I think I am making a perfectly acceptable one. Rob is possibly a saint to be able to put up with all my mutterings, veiled (and not so veiled) threats of harm and my downright disobedience! He tells me to do something and I tell him I can't, at which point he merely looks at me and tells me to get on with it. Why would I allow myself to be subjected to such horrors? Because I am crazy. Those of you who know me will attest to this fact, and the rest of you will just have to accept it</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">. I mean, why would anyone want to be put through tortuous regimes just to look nice and feel better? (Just a rhetorical question thrown in to make you think....) I have friends who are absolute exercise junkies and I would love to be like that, but I suspect that I am just too lazy. Of course if I had money that would be a different scenario altogether. I do have an inkling that one has to have a bit of an obsessive nature to do things like go out running in the wind and the rain, or exercise until your muscles look like Popeye's, but I could be totally wrong (as I believe I have on occasion before....).</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I have been told that I have to go out walking for an hour at a time and three times a week. In an ideal world this scenario would be a pleasant and refreshing experience and one that I could manage without too many problems - unless you want to hear about my dodgy knees and pain in the back - however, because I am not wired like most people and I want to go out at six in the morning and none of my friends want to join me, I must walk on my own. Just as an aside, walking out early and on my own led me to the encounter with a loose dog, and the blog about it that I managed to delete. However, back to the story in hand, this is not an ideal world and I do have other commitments that often make finding the time to walk, hard. Well finding the time to walk when I want to and not when I have a free evening or spare time during the day that is. And have I mentioned dodgy knees and back pain? Honestly, I sometimes think that Rob expects the impossible, but then I have to put my working hat on and say, "if you think you can, or think you can't, you're right". I know that I can do all the things I am asked (although by the time I get home I can't remember how to do the exercises but that's another matter) and I know that Rob only has my best interests at heart. I wouldn't change him for the world!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">I had better stop now as the time is fast approaching my first session after a week (and a half) enforced absence as he was at Wentworth (a posh golf and country club as I understand it!). I am imagining all sorts of horrible things when he realises that I have not done even half the stuff that I was supposed to do whilst he was enjoying (sorry, I meant working) himself. Oh well, best to get it over and done with quickly. If you never hear from me again you will at least know why.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: large;">P.S. please don't ask why the first link is high lighted as I have absolutely no idea - it doesn't appear like that in the draft.....</span></div>
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Susan Georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14725524839436697477noreply@blogger.com0